We’ve heard about the upside-down basics for living as members of God’s kingdom. Then Jesus got to some specifics: being salt and light. Like these agents, disciples of Jesus get noticed!

Salt stops the rot; it heals; it adds flavour. The properties of salt – gathered from the nearby Dead Sea and numerous salt pits – were well-known in Jesus’ time. If so-called ‘salt’ didn’t have those properties, it was worth nothing. The picture was clear. Disciples of Jesus were also to be agents of purification, healing and flavour. Are we being ‘salt’? Does your presence make a difference to the way in which others behave or speak?

Jesus, of course, described himself as ‘the light of the world’ (John 9:5); he is light for everyone, including Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). Here, amazingly, he described his disciples in the same terms (v 14). Light isn’t hidden; it can’t stop itself from shining. But let’s lift it up and share this with others (vs 15,16). Don’t hide! ‘Let your light shine’ (v 16). We need to be active before others in our living for God, not to bring attention to ourselves, but to point them to God. The goal of our light-sharing is that others will join with us in living for and glorifying our Father.