We've recently been considering the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 as manifestations of that savour of salt which Jesus speaks of - salt, which my study Bible suggests, is the 'quality' of the believer who can help meet the needs of the world.
It is a description of the believer's relationship with the world....and like Jesus' further 'parallel' with a city on a hill, it cannot be hid. Such will be its light that it will be seen shining wherever it goes in the darkness of this world.
Although we have spent some weeks looking at this already, it feels that we need a summary to bring it together in a bit more application to our every day life.
You might still be wondering how you season, cleanse and help this world, how your light shines...well, Jesus says 'let your light so shine'. This little word 'let' also means 'allow'.
It seems to speak to me of listening to that quiet voice of the Spirit prompting us to do good works - good works which are not to make people look up to you but bring glory to our Heavenly Father - the effect of the Holy Spirit living within us.
It might be as simple as sending a card to somebody in distress - the thought comes to your mind how it might comfort that person, but then perhaps you have just sat down and are feeling tired and you think perhaps you won't bother, it isn't that important.
But then the prompting thought comes again, and you think well, maybe the person won't like the card, maybe they will think you are going over the top...but then perhaps you recognise that the Spirit is prompting you and you make the effort.
You later hear that the person has the card by their bed and it is comforting them each day, and you give thanks to your Heavenly Father that he has used you in this way, and you trust that as the loving words of the card directed the person's thoughts to the Lord so they also give thanks and glorify the Father for it.... your merciful action (Blessed are the merciful) - your salt - has contributed to healing and seasoning in the life of another.
It might be heeding that quiet voice of the Spirit within you checking your speech, restraining you as you start to talk of another person or situation: 'Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man' (Colossians 4:6).
Being sensitive to this gentle voice of the Spirit may stop us appearing as a gossip, as unkind - it witnesses of the meek, pure spirit living within which is gentle and kind. (Blessed are the meek...Blessed are the pure in heart).
How easy it is to ignore this quiet voice and just say what we want - and then 'how great a matter a little fire kindleth!' (James 3:5). In contrast how the salt or gracious answer may melt any coldness or hard spirit and savour the conversation of those with whom we speak.
And then what about those times when our old nature gets the better of ourselves and we answer sharply, quickly or get into an argument. Do you hear the voice of the spirit whilst in the very act of arguing your heart yearns to stop, to say, 'I'm sorry', 'Let's not argue'?
Although upset you feel the deeper grief of the Spirit within you which wants to bring reconciliation. You mourn over these sins and long for peace and quietness to be restored (Blessed are they that mourn...Blessed are the peacemakers). Your salt is no good if it doesn't bring healing to your relationships, your light is dimmed if it does not witness of the way of the Lord Jesus.
Then there are times when you are mistreated, people are unkind to you - perhaps because you are a Christian. You might be tempted to feel sorry for yourself, to angrily speak of your 'enemies' to your friends, to secretly wish that they will get their comeuppance and your mind wants to go over and over the situation with self-pity, your heart hardened towards them.
But do you feel that little prompting of the Holy Spirit within you whispering to 'let it go'?
That prompting to think of your Saviour who endured so much for you - you who had chosen to reject him, and was figuratively one of those who said 'away with him' and helped crucify him to that cross?
That reminding to rejoice that he loves you and cares about you and knows all your situation?
Can we acknowledge we have felt this?
Perhaps you are known by non-believers to move more serenely through life's trials than they do - they marvel at what is the Spirit working a spirit of meekness and forgiveness within you. (Blessed are the meek... blessed are the merciful). They notice you seem to have a secret comfort which they can't put a finger on. The Spirit, grace, salt, light which is bringing preservation to the world for the sake of the Lord's people within it (Blessed are they that mourn... blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you...).
Perhaps therefore, part of this 'let' or 'allow' which Jesus is speaking of is referring to the battle and conflict between our old and new natures.
Our old nature wants to be right, to be independent, to stand up for itself, to be selfish, to judge, to vindicate, fret, argue, indulge its lusts and be popular and liked by all men.
Our new nature is:
How might we maintain the quality of our salt and the brightness of our light - which perhaps we sadly think is not up to much?
Well, dear friend, take comfort, that it is not you which gives this savour and brightness. It is the Lord Jesus who gives it and will maintain it, '...he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ' (Philippians 1:6).
But let us strive with prayer to the Lord to help us, to keep our salt from being tainted and our light from flickering by keeping close to him with regular prayer, confession of sin, repentance and praise, with regular times spent reading in his words, with regular attendance to worship him, and with regular times spent in fellowship with others who too love the name of Jesus.
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