29 August | Youth
«You are the salt of the earth.» Matthew 5:13
I was at an exhibition where an artist was making caricatures, and two friends who accompanied me asked the man to draw them. Then they started encouraging me to do the same. It was not difficult to convince me. But as I sat down for my drawing, I began to question my decision. The artist's eyes stared at me, while his hands drew. He would look up, look at my face for a few seconds and lean over the paper. People passing by stopped and looked at me and then at the paper. And I nervously asked myself, “How does he see me? What features will he highlight?”
When his “work” was finished, he turned it over to me. I confess I was disappointed. I know that a caricature is a different type of drawing, but that one looked strange. The artist had softened some of my features, and I became about ten years younger. It was weird.
The kingdom of God changes the way we think and live. A new set of values changes our past, present and future. The kingdom is God's rule in our lives, and this motivates us to live differently. It is supposed to be different, not weird! Jesus said, “You are salt to add flavor to the world around you!” That is what salt is for. The right amount of salt brings out the flavor and makes a difference.
The world we live in has no flavor. At least, not the flavor of a full life. Jesus said that He came to give life and more abundantly (John 10:10). Most do not know what that is. We have people around us who do not know true joy. Some live in despair of an empty life.
The Sermon on the Mount is the manifesto of Jesus' kingdom, His government’s intentions. In this passage of Scripture, we learn that in Christ we have everything we need for a full life. We understand that life consists of being happy in Him. And that we exist to give flavor to a flavorless world.
For me, the best title for this unique sermon would be: “Be the difference in Christ.” On that mount, Jesus offers a lifestyle that is the complete opposite to the world's system. He expects you today to spread like “salt” to demonstrate everywhere you are how the gospel has made a difference in your life.