It is very interesting to me the context in which Jesus talks about us being salt and light in the world.
What was the context? He had just finished talking about persecution. That we are blessed if we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
Right after that, he tells us we are the salt of the earth, and he warns us that if we lose our saltiness, we’re no good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled.
How can we lose our saltiness? By giving into pressure from our family, our friends, and the people around us to conform to them, rather than to Christ. To do so because we are afraid of what they will say or do to us.
When we are so focused on pleasing others that we forget that we need to please God above all others, we lose our saltiness.
We are meant to be salt in this world. Salt preserves. It keeps meat from rotting.
In the same way, Christians are to be people that keep our culture from rotting by showing people God’s ways.
Not just by telling them about God’s ways, mind you. But by showing them God’s ways by the way you live your life.
And by showing them God’s ways, they’ll see the contrast between a healthy, fulfilled life and a morally decrepit one.
Salt also flavors. It gives taste to food that has little or none. In the same way, we are to flavor the world around us with the love and touch of Christ.
But we can do neither of these things if we are simply blending in with the world.
God put us in this world to be light. A city on a hill that cannot be hidden. For what purpose? To show his glory to a lost, hurt, and dying world.
How can we then hide that light that God has lit in our lives by giving into the pressure of those around us?
How about you? Have you so conformed to this world that you’ve lost your saltiness? That your light can no longer be seen?
Who are you trying to please? God? Or the people around you?
May we obey the words of Jesus and let our lights shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 