Salt and Light

Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8a)

Have you ever heard or used the expression, “That left a bad taste in my mouth”? Except you weren’t referring to food, but to an individual or an experience you encountered. ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good’ is not referring to a literal palate taste that is produced by the flavoring of food. It’s referring to an encounter with one of the characteristics of God; His goodness.

As a believer, there are many ways to experience the goodness of God. Through His word, grace, mercy, peace, joy, favor, unconditional love. The list is endless. But how does one, who is not yet a believer, taste and see the goodness of God?

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet (Matt. 5:13).”

As Christians, we are called the salt of the world. Salt has numerous qualities. It is a seasoning used to give food flavor, it can make you thirsty, and it is a preservative. [Salt keeps food dry enough to keep bacteria from being able to grow, essentially making it a preservative]. If we are called the salt of the world, what type of commission could this be as followers of Christ?

If someone is eating something flavorful, don’t you typically crave what they are having. This is what the commission entails. We are called to cause others to crave and thirst for what we have through our relationship with Christ. This is a taste of the Lord those we interact with get to experience through us. We have the ability to help preserve their perspective of the Kingdom of Heaven, as we conduct ourselves according to our high commission found in the Word of God.

Jesus followed the parable of salt by, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:14-16).”

When a light is turned on, the darkness disappears. It doesn’t matter how small a flicker of light it may be; the light consumes the darkness around it. The word of God is referred to as light throughout scripture. When we are faced with dark times or those around us are faced with dark times, do we let our light shine? Do we allow the Word of God, which dwells within our spirit, illuminate the life’s around us so they can see that the Lord is good?

The light we shine will give glory to our Father, who is in heaven. Are you walking in a manner that allows others to taste and see that the Lord is good?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me the salt and light of the world. Help me preserve communities, relationships, moral values, integrity, and bring your flavor to the lives around me. Being the lampstand in my home is a high calling. May my light shine bright and never burn out. In Jesus’ name. Amen!