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Monday 20 January
Courageous connections

Read Matthew 5:13–16
‘You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world.’ (verses 13a and 14a)

In today’s text, Jesus presents his counter-cultural manifesto of human society transformed by God’s kingdom values. He introduces two metaphors using everyday items essential to life – salt and light. Apart from its universal use in preserving meat when there was no refrigeration, salt was used to ratify agreements and signify loyalty. It was used to make purchases and there were even times when wages were paid in salt. So when Jesus says we are the ‘salt of the earth’, he is speaking of many important functions.

Jesus also speaks of our role as ‘light’, with its one intrinsic role – to banish darkness. Florence Nightingale, pioneer of modern nursing, earned the name ‘the Lady with the Lamp’ because on her own at night she walked among the beds with a small lamp in hand, checking the wounded. An impossible task without a lamp. Friends, we cannot fulfil our purpose as Christians without connecting with people. Think about it – salt must be rubbed in, sprinkled or ingested, and light must shine in the darkness before either one can be effective.

Jesus now calls us to do what he did to be effective – connect with people. He did not discriminate. He socialised with undesirables, outcasts and the friendless. Consequently, he was ridiculed as ‘a glutton and a drunkard’ and called a ‘friend of sinners’ (Matthew 11:19). Will you connect with people and risk being ridiculed and misunderstood, as you become an agent of change?

† Lord, grant me the desire and the courage to become more like Jesus, by doing whatever is necessary to be more effective as ‘salt’ and ‘light’, beginning in my community. Amen