Christ, the Word of God made flesh, came to this earth to accomplish our salvation and to demonstrate the love of the heavenly Father for us. He requires of us to approach him with love and humility and to learn from him.
"As the Father sent me, so I send you." (John 20:21) We are but strangers on this earth and heaven is our true homeland. Here on earth, we are ambassadors for God in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador is a person sent by his country to represent his homeland in another place. He is sent to carry the values and traditions that represent his culture in an honorable way.
Christ summarizes our purpose as Christians on earth by comparing us to salt and light.
Salt gives food a good taste. In the same manner, we as Christians should add a good spiritual taste to our societies. A Christian should be humble. It is important to have such people in any society. Salt also keeps food from going bad, and in the same manner a true Christian should keep society from corruption and sins. God shows mercy towards the world because there is still a good Christian minority here and there. However, let us be careful not to lose our saltiness, our flavor, and our holy behavior, so that we might not be thrown outside.
We should function as a light to the world. We can do so only when we walk in the true light, the Sun of Righteousness. We are able to show love to others when we ourselves are firm in God's love. Light is vital for those walking in the darkness. It gives guidance and helps the lost find their way. We should show forth the light of Jesus not with words only but with truth and action. "My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action." (1 John 3:18)
We all have different talents and abilities that we can use for the glory of God. May we indeed be salt and light, building up ourselves, our families, and our society.
- 13 AUGUST -