Flourishing by Following: Unveiling the Potential Jesus Sees In You - Matthew 5:13-16
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Introduction
Have you ever felt…inadequate? Aimless? Like you were adrift in a sea of uncertainty, struggling to find your purpose and power, to discover a role that truly mattered, to feel capable of achieving something significant? I definitely have. Both in my childhood and as an adult, I’ve wrestled with doubts about my calling. I have questioned my abilities and wondered if I could genuinely make a difference. I've felt the shame of inadequacy and the despair of insignificance.
But thankfully, throughout my life, God has placed remarkable people in my path— people who saw more in me than I saw in myself. Their belief, encouragement, and unwavering faith in my potential were the anchors that held me steady during storms of self doubt. They were the voices that reminded me of my inherent worth and the purpose God had planned for my life. These individuals, through their belief and encouragement, helped me embrace my calling and strive to maximize the potential God had placed within me.
Two weeks ago, I asked our staff to reflect on their journeys into ministry. Each shared a unique story, a testament to God's grace and guidance, yet a common thread wove through almost every narrative: Someone saw more in them than they saw in themselves. Each one described a moment, an invitation, a belief extended by another person that propelled them forward and gave them the courage to step into leadership. Many confessed to feeling utterly inadequate at the time, overwhelmed by the challenge. Yet, that initial belief, that act of faith from another, empowered them to take the risk, seize the opportunity, and embrace the calling God had placed on their hearts.
And it is my deep conviction that Jesus desires to do great things through each of His followers. In the Sermon on the Mount, He didn't just outline expectations; He also infused His words with powerful encouragement, a profound statement of faith in the ability of His disciples to fulfill their divinely ordained purpose. My prayer today is that you will receive a fresh infusion of clarity regarding your calling and a deep-seated confidence that, with God’s help, you are indeed capable of achieving all that He has planned for you.
Big Idea: Jesus sees more in you than you see in yourself. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount calls for a high standard of righteousness. This standard is intimidating, leaving the most eager followers feeling inadequate in their own power. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t leave us crushed under the burden of obedience but instead speaks words of encouragement and spiritually empowers us to do the things He has called us to do.
Passage
Matthew 5:13-16: “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. 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.”
Negative and Positive Responses
This passage directly follows the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), which ended with Jesus speaking of the blessings bestowed upon those persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Matthew 5:10-12, “10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness ’sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Verses 10-12 acknowledge the potential for negative responses to a life lived in accordance with God’s will—persecution, rejection, and even false accusations. Yet, verses 13-16 present a counterpoint, a vision of a positive response of glorifying God resulting from the righteous living and good works of Jesus' followers. This is a critical point: Jesus isn't advocating for a monastic existence, living in seclusion from the world; rather, He’s urging His followers to engage actively with the world, to be agents of change, to leave an imprint of His love on all they encounter.
Salt and Light
It is essential to understand these metaphors collectively. Light and salt can signify various meanings, but in this passage, Jesus employs them metaphorically to illustrate how his followers' righteousness, their good deeds, lead others to glorify their Father. Although these metaphors share the same core meaning, each uniquely contributes to that overall understanding. Light serves as the clearest metaphor and should therefore play a primary role in interpreting the entire passage.
The Light of the World
This imagery isn't new; Matthew has already described Jesus' ministry as fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of God's light shining in dark places.
Matthew 4:12-16, “12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:1-2; 42:6-7; 49:6).
Isaiah’s prophecies consistently portray the Messiah and His people as bearers of this light, manifesting God’s glory among the nations. Isaiah 60, a promise to Zion, builds upon this metaphor, explicitly connecting the light with the righteousness of God's people and the subsequent glory He receives. This powerfully identifies the disciples as the new Israel, the continuation of God's covenant. This metaphor serves as a precursor to the commissioning of the disciples in Matthew 10, where they are sent out to embody the same light and ministry that they had observed in Jesus. Jesus saw His followers as extensions of His light to the world!
The Salt of the Earth
The metaphor of salt is equally significant. While salt's role as a seasoning is well known, its function as a preservative and a purifying agent was paramount in the ancient world. Salt prevented spoilage, preserved resources, and symbolized purity in both culinary and ritual contexts. Jesus used salt as a metaphor for purification (Mark 9:49). Furthermore, salt was also connected to covenants, signifying their permanence and the enduring nature of such commitments. The act of eating salt together symbolized loyalty and a lasting bond. God’s covenant with David is even referred to as “a covenant of salt” (2 Chronicles 13), emphasizing its eternal nature. When the surrounding nations complained to Artaxerxes about the Jews attempting to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, they reminded the king they had eaten “salt” together, signifying their loyalty to him (Ezra 4:14). The disciples being “salt” to the world means they serve as witnesses to God’s faithfulness, embodying His enduring covenant promise. Therefore, combining these ideas, Jesus' followers preserve the earth by purifying it through their good deeds, which act as a witness to God's loyalty to His promise to redeem the world.
The term “losing its taste” is better translated as becoming “foolish.” Salt, in ancient times, could become impure, losing its effectiveness. In this context, “foolishness” doesn't refer to a lack of intellect but a failure to uphold the teachings of Jesus, following His wisdom. Christians lose their wisdom when they stop obeying Jesus. To be “trampled underfoot” represents the world's rejection of those who fail to be agents of purification and preservation. This speaks to the potential consequences of compromising one’s faith by aligning oneself with worldly values, which can lead to rejection ironically from the world.
Jesus’ Confidence
Note that Jesus states "You are," not "You will be” salt and light. This isn't a future promise; it's a present reality. Jesus states His followers' very nature, what is intrinsically true about them. Salt can’t help but be salty and light can’t help but shine. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; such light cannot be contained. The very nature of our Christian calling is to shine forth, to radiate God's love and grace, not for self-promotion but for His glory. Jesus doesn’t want us to put a lid on what, through the work of the Holy Spirit, is naturally coming out of us.
Conclusion
The central message is clear: Jesus sees more in you than you see in yourself. Each follower of Jesus is called to participate in His mission of reconciliation, of bringing the world into a relationship with God, by living a righteous life and sharing their story of spiritual transformation. This is not an easy assignment, but Jesus believes we are up to the task.
Steps
Understanding the scope of God’s mission can leave us feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. Yet, the very fact that we feel this way reveals the magnitude of the calling and simultaneously underscores the greatness of the one who has empowered us. We are called to be both salt and light—a responsibility that should fill us with honor and encourage us to press on, not in self-reliance but in deep dependence on the grace of God. We are entrusted with the very ministry of the Messiah, and He has implicit faith in our ability to fulfill this extraordinary calling.
If a friend brought you here today, let me be transparent about their hope for you. They yearn to see you embrace the transformative power of God, to experience the profound love He offers. They know they can’t force this; their desire is to simply invite you to discover this truth for yourself. I challenge you to ask them how God has changed their lives. Their lives stand as powerful testimonies to the remarkable work God can and does accomplish in the hearts of His people. They aren't perfect; they know it, and you know it. But something extraordinary has happened to them, and they eagerly await the opportunity to share their experience with you. Let them be a witness to the transforming power of God.
Let us, then, embrace our calling, with all of its challenges and profound rewards. Let us be the salt that preserves and purifies, the light that illuminates and guides. Let us shine brightly, not for our own acclaim, but for the glory of our Father in heaven. Let us remember that Jesus sees more in us than we could ever imagine, and that through Him, we can accomplish far more than we ever thought possible.
Life Level Application
Head: Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. The message emphasizes the importance of being “salt” and “light.” How do these metaphors specifically describe our role as Christians in the world? Consider how these metaphors resonate with your daily life and the way you live out your faith. Compare and contrast these metaphors with other biblical images of Christians, such as “ambassadors for Christ.” How do these metaphors support one another?
Heart: Read 1 Thess. 5:11-14. The message highlights the importance of others believing in us and seeing our potential. Can you identify a person in your life who has encouraged you and believed in you in a way that impacted your faith journey? How did their belief affect your actions?
Hand: Read Acts 1:8 and 2:37-41. The message concludes by emphasizing the importance of sharing one's faith. How can you effectively and lovingly share your faith journey with those who are not yet followers of Christ, bearing in mind the sensitivity and respect required in such conversations?
Habit: The message emphasizes that Jesus' statement, “You are the salt…You are the light,” is a present-tense declaration, not a future promise. What does this declaration imply about the inherent nature of a believer's identity in Christ? How does this impact your understanding of your own spiritual capabilities and responsibilities?