我们在世上的作用
马太福音五章13至20节
13你们是世上的盐。盐若失了味，怎能叫他再咸呢？以后无用，不过丢在外面，被人践踏了。
14你们是世上的光。城造在山上是不能隐藏的。
15人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。
16你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。
17莫想我来要废掉律法和先知。我来不是要废掉，乃是要成全。
18我实在告诉你们，就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点一画也不能废去，都要成全。
19所以，无论何人废掉这诫命中最小的一条，又教训人这样作，他在天国要称为最小的。但无论何人遵行这诫命，又教训人遵行，他在天国要称为大的。
20我告诉你们，你们的义若不胜于文士和法利赛人的义，断不能进天国。
信息分享
首先，基督清楚指出，跟从祂的人乃是世上的盐和光。盐可以在人不知不觉间发挥很大的作用。光是人人看见，也使人人获益。
盐用在食物之中，可以发挥防腐的作用。如果神把信徒看作是盐，那么信徒所处的世界，必然是一个腐败的世界，因为罪已进入了世界，使世界变得腐败。但信徒可以做些甚么呢？
让我们看看基督的教导。盐若是放在调味架里，是没有用处的。盐必须放进食物里面，不管那是肉是菜或是汤里，才能发挥调味的作用。
换言之，信徒若要发挥作用，他就不可以只留在信徒群体里面；他必须与这个罪恶、腐败、失丧的世界接触。信徒必须走到世人中间见证基督。用基督的另一种说法，就是要让自己的光照在人前。
盐会令人产生口渴的感觉。我们吃了一些很咸的东西之后，往往会感到十分口渴。我们为基督所作的见证，会否令人渴慕认识基督更多？盐应该有这种作用。我们所活出的见证，应该使人更渴慕基督。耶稣在世的时候，经常吸引罪人围在祂的身边──他们是自知有罪，但渴慕得着改变。
倘若别人在我们身上，清楚看见基督如何满足我们，他一定会被吸引，想认识基督更多。他们可能会说：「我虽然不是很明白，但是，在你的身上，我看见我所需要和渴望拥有的东西。」
我们若想为基督做盐做光，最好就是向人见证基督为我们所成就的一切。
祷告：
主啊，求你使我在世人中间做光做盐，让别人透过我的生命看见你的作为。
OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD
Matthew 5:13-20
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Message
Christ said plainly that they (and we) are like salt and light. Salt has a strong but unseen influence. Light is a visible benefit to all. These are only two of the 49 or more objects which Christ mentioned in his Sermon on the Mount.
Salt helps to prevent decay in food. If God sees Christians as salt, then the world around us must be decaying. This is because of sin. What then should we be doing?
Let's take Christ's word and follow it through. Salt is of no use while it is kept in a jar or in a salt shaker. It must be put into contact with the food, meat or vegetables or whatever, to do its work.
As salt I will have to be in contact with the sinful, decaying, dying world if I am to help it. That means I can't always stay in the company of Christians. I need to get out and witness for Christ. To use the other word Christ used, I need to let my light shine.
Salt creates thirst. Following a meal in which we have eaten very salty meat, we find ourselves thirsty afterwards.
Does our testimony for Christ in this world make people long for Christ? It should. Our lives should make them thirst for Christ. Jesus attracted sinners-those who knew they had sinned and who longed to be different.
If people around us could clearly see how Christ has met our need, they would be attracted to him. They may say 'I don't understand all about it, but you've got something I need and I want it'.
The very finest thing we could do for Christ would be to show to others what he has done for us.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord help me to be salt today. Let others see what you have done for me.