Becoming Like Jesus: Confession and RepentanceSample

Salt and Light

When we accept the invitation to become a part of God’s Kingdom, we become something different than we were before. We are no longer defined by the stains sin has left on us. Instead, we are citizens of Heaven and children of God. God puts His name on us and sets us apart for a specific purpose. Today, we are going to look at a teaching of Jesus that sheds even more light on who we become when we follow Him.

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Pray…

Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me out of the darkness and into the light. I’m different because of you. Continue to refine my character and heal my brokenness. Teach me how to live for you and love others. Help me to change my ways as I follow you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:13-16 NLT

Consider….

These words from Jesus come near the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount—a teaching Jesus gave about what life is like when God is in charge.

During this portion of the sermon, Jesus is telling us who we become when we step into His Kingdom.

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world…”

The salt of the earth and the light of the world. That’s who we are. But, what exactly does that mean?

Salt served two primary functions in the ancient world: salt was a preservative and it added flavor. Just as salt keeps meat from going bad, we have been chosen by God to keep our communities from falling into darkness. And just like salt adds flavor to the food it’s added to, we have been commissioned to add goodness, truth, and beauty to the culture around us.

How do we do that? By aiming our lives towards God so that we become a people who are led by Jesus, shaped by grace, and moved by love.

What about light? Light shines in the darkness. In the same way, our good deeds are meant to be a light in the darkness of our world that points people to the loving arms of their Heavenly Father.

This is who we become when we follow Jesus. We become salt and light. But, if we lose our saltiness, then what good are we? Or, what if we hide our light under a basket? What help are we then?

Jesus is warning about the danger of trying to become a Christian without being willing to change your ways. When that happens, we lose our saltiness and our light stops shining.

When we practice the disciplines of confession and repentance, we are choosing to stay salty and shine brightly. Because we are choosing to agree with God about who we are, and to aim our lives towards Him and His plans for us.

Practice…

Let your good deeds point people to God.

How “salty” would you say you are? How brightly is your light shining? Why do you think that is?

If you aren’t doing good and making a difference, whether in small ways or big ways, then it’s time to make a change. Because Jesus has been good news for us, we’ve been called to be good news for others.

Think of someone you can bless today and then surprise them with a random act of kindness.

Listen…

Find a quiet place where you can continue to spend time with God. Maybe you have a favorite chair, a certain spot in your backyard, or a particularly cozy closet. Wherever you need to go to limit distractions, do it.

Set a timer for five-ten minutes. Ask God to speak to you. When you get distracted, come back to God by praying this Scripture:

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Psalm 86:11 NLT

When the timer ends, thank God for the time you spent together and go into your day looking for opportunities to love Him and love others.