Stephen's Children is a ministry offering hope and a new life for children and families living in Cairo's garbage slums in Egypt. Founded and still guided by "Mama Maggie" Gobran, Stephen's Children now touches more than 25,000 families through ministries involving 1,500 workers and volunteers. Mama Maggie hungers and thirsts that the wrongs in the children’s worlds will be made right – and her efforts come because of her commitment to obey the words of Jesus to be salt and light in this world. She is being salt and light to thousands.  But her effective ministry all began with love for one little boy.

       Mama Maggie Video.

       It’s clear to me when I read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount that Jesus intends for all his followers to make a positive difference in this world.  But, one of the most shocking aspects of Jesus’ sermon is that he clearly believes that those whose lives make the biggest difference in this world are often the least likely people (in the eyes of the world) – people like Mama Maggie.  And Jesus consistently lets us know that great, great works of God almost always start with small steps of sacrificial, Christlike love.  We see this in Mt. 5:13-16.  When these words were first spoken, they must have been among the most shocking words ever uttered.  Jesus was telling everyday, ordinary people about how their lives could further God’s kingdom in this world.  And, I believe that what Jesus said to them, he says to us today:

You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world…  Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).

 

Question #1:  Who is this salt and light?  You, you are the salt… and you, you are the light…

      To grasp the significance of Jesus’ words, try to envision being there when Jesus first spoke them.  Imagine being one of those disciples who pulled away from the crowds to listen to Jesus’ sermon in Galilee.  They lived in a small nation dominated by a foreign power.  No one thought anything of significance could ever come out of Galilee in Judea.

      And, within this little oppressed country, you belong to a persecuted, religious minority group.  People are suspicious of this Jesus you are following.  You don’t have large church buildings or Christian schools.  In other words, if little could be expected to come out of this country as a whole, certainly absolutely nothing that is world-changing would be expected from your little religious minority group.

       On this particular day, a large crowd gathers for a festival.  Jesus is preaching the kingdom of God is breaking into the world.  The evils of this world will be eliminated. Poverty will be over – war will cease – tears will be dried – death will cease -- all that is wrong will be made right in the kingdom of heaven.  “Beautiful!” you think.  “But how?”   

       Then Jesus lowers his eyes to those through whom he will launch his kingdom work and what does he see?  He doesn’t see much that is impressive.  He doesn’t see influential religious leaders.  He doesn’t see people with political clout or financial strength. Instead, he sees 12 unkempt, rather poorly educated people -- some fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot...  Surely, he can’t expect much to come out of this group.

       But it is specifically to these people that Jesus declared, “You, you (it’s emphatic in Greek) are the salt of the earth!  You, you are the light of the world!"

       The enormous import of the words may be lost on us because we live in a world with refrigeration and electric power.  Imagine how important salt is in a country where there is no refrigeration?  Salt was used for many things in the ancient world – but the main one was to preserve food.  It must have had a value beyond anything we can picture.  And can you imagine how important light is in a world with no streetlights or electrically?  These disciples knew what darkness was.

       Jesus is indicating how God sees our world.  He sees that the world, left to itself, is deteriorating – under the rule of the world, our own human desires and the devil.  Jesus came – he was here.  He was not ignorant about the evils of the world.  It is a world in need of salt.  Clearly, Jesus is trying to get his disciples to grasp that they have a vital role to play in bringing God’s shalom to this hurting world.  And, it is the consistent message of the Scriptures that God loves the world in spite of the deterioration and darkness. God has graciously has placed several different restraints against evil in this world.  He's placed government in the world to help maintain order and justice Romans 13.  And, God ordained institutions like marriage and family in creation and, when they are in tact, they help hold together our deteriorating world.  But such things by themselves are not sufficient to restrain evil.

      With that in mind, Jesus is saying that the most powerful force that God places in this world for its good is ... is ... "You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world!"  Jesus has planted us as his people to live in this world and bring blessing to it.

      Jesus is saying that people who appear to be less than ordinary are vital to his plans in this world.  He is saying that his followers are the salt of the whole earth -- the light of the entire world.  How could Jesus think that this tiny, unlikely band of people in Galilee had a world mission?  How could he think they were going to change the world?  But clearly, he did.

       So, who is Jesus’ salt and light to a world he loves now?  The answer:  All who follow Jesus and by his grace and power are becoming like him are salt and light in the world.

Question #2:  How is God going to change the world through ordinary people committed to him?

       He was going to send people like these 12 and like us into all the world both to call people to believe in him and to show his love to them.  When we believe, he gathers us into communities of disciples – like LAC -- who gather to grow in Christlikeness – and then go to obey Christ.  You may say, “That doesn’t seem like a great plan.”  But it’s God’s plan.

       Throughout history, people seem to think Jesus needed a better plan.  Some have thought we need to conquer through military power and bring justice to the world through might.  Some have thought we need to take over the places of political influence and force those in our nations to buckle under God’s rule.  Some have even thought we’ll do it through a good marketing plan.

       Please know that Jesus uses people in all the above-mentioned venues to do his work.  God sends his people into the military and says, “Live for me there.  Speak of me there.  Love as I love there.” The same is true of sports, politics, marketing and all other arenas of human endeavor.  But, when Christians are in those places, there must be something true of us or we will not make a difference for the cause of Christ.

       So, what must be true of us?  The context of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13-16 instructs us. The context opens our eyes to what is involved in being salt and light. Look at what surrounds Jesus’ in Mt. 5:13-16: 

1. 1.     Matthew 5:1-12:

These are the beatitudes that demonstrate the character traits Jesus approves in the lives of his followers.  The words of Jesus in verses 13-16 must be understood as the impact that our lives can have when our inner beings become more like Jesus’.  Those who transform the world are people growing in Christ-like character.

Let me summarize those traits found 1-9.  Those ruled by God, blessed by God, and then used by God:

*are utterly dependent on God – we know we cannot be righteous on our own (v.3).

*weep about our own sin and the suffering in the world that evil causes (v.4).

*refuse to live self-centered lives but use what God provides serve others (v.5).

*passionately seek what is good and right (v.6).

*show forgiveness and mercy to others (v.7).

*are single-minded in wanting to know and please God (v.8).

*are reconcilers of conflict even when people don’t want peace (v.9).

       This is the kind of person Jesus was.  The person who changes the world is one who goes into the all walks of life and, while there, reflects the inner character of Jesus.  Our inner lives change our deeds. When people see our deeds, as v. 16 says, they give praise to God.

1. 2.     Matt. 5:17-48

In the rest of his sermon, Jesus teaches how his followers are to live according to God’s commands.  Jesus discusses the real meaning and application God’s law from the Old Testament in contrast to the way it had been distorted by some religious leaders of his day.  We will be looking at his teaching in the coming weeks, but, essentially, Jesus says, “Let me tell you how your Maker created us all to live.  I haven’t come to do away with God’s laws but to show you what life is like when you obey him.  Live that way and you will make a difference in this world.”

I’ll say more about this in coming weeks but let it suffice to say that, in this context, Jesus is indicating that those who transform the world are people committed to obeying God’s Word.  What Jesus does on the inside, according to Jesus, must flow into deeds that make God known.  “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (5:16).”

       Putting Jesus’ teaching salt and light into this context, Jesus is saying this: When we develop the inner character traits of Jesus (5:1-9) and live with a commitment to obeying God’s ways rather than the world’s (5:17-48), we will make a positive difference in this world to God’s glory.    

       Jesus tells us the main way to change this world is to have people, even less than ordinary people in the eyes of the world, to be people of Godly character living God's way wherever God has placed us.  God sends his family members into all walks of life to represent him – and we make a difference when we’re different kinds of people (Christ-like kinds of people) in those places.

Question #3:  What should we expect when we seek to be salt and light in the world (5:10-12)? Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me…  In the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

       I cannot ignore these words from Jesus any longer.  Almost always, when we first seek to do “salty and light-bearing deeds”, we face opposition.  It has always been this way so Jesus indicates this should not surprise us.  I will not sugarcoat his words.  But I do want to help you understand why doing what is right often leads to difficult times.  Consider this principle:

The Principle of Changing Regimes:  When a new rule comes in, the old rulers resist.

       In any organization or institution in this world, when a new leader steps in everything changes – and the systems operating under the earlier leader find it hard to adjust that change.  When I became a university president, I knew my predecessor was a very different kind of leader from me.  He was extremely knowledgeable about finance and operational issues.  And he was a quick decision-maker.  Over his 23 years as leader, he had built a team that complemented his rather remarkable gifts.  He made the big decisions and then gave clear and precise directives to his executive team about how they were to carry them out.  But, I came in as a pastor with little knowledge about the academy and little experience in managing a complex organization of this size.  In other words, I needed people who knew where we were headed and the values by which we would operate, but who were competent in leading their parts of the organization.  This created a systems’ shock. I won’t go into how hard those early years were – both for me and those around me.  But, the point is clear: When the leader changes, there is resistance.  This is always true.

       After people disobeyed God’s rule in Genesis 3, rulers other than God took over ground in this fallen world, i.e., our own flesh, the systems and ways of the world, and the devil.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares that God’s kingdom is breaking in.  Those old rulers rose up against him and put him to death only to be foiled by the resurrection.  But, God’s rule is a process that God promises will be completed.  When we ask Jesus into our lives, we surrender to his rule – but the old ruler resists.  Right?  Do you ever experience that?

            And when we carry the message of God’s kingdom into the world, count on the fact that the world, the flesh and the devil will resist.  But keep going.  God will complete his work and in us.  God’s kingdom will prevail – but do not be surprised when the going is sometimes tough. 

Question #4:  What are we to do? People do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. They put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house… (Others must) see your good deeds and then glorify your Father… (5:15-16).

       Basically, I want us all to go out and be salt and light wherever God has put you.  Do something.  Jesus says we need deeds that flow from our inner lives.  It’s clear to me that Jesus is saying that gatherings like the disciples were having with him were essential.  They needed teaching – as we do.  They needed motivation – as we do.  They met with him to become saltier and more shiny.  But, then they had to go and do something.  Those inner lives had to change their external actions.  They had to go where others rulers were still in control and love as Jesus loved and live as Jesus lived. 

            It’s so clear that Jesus says that when we receive him, he comes into us and turns us into salt and light.  We must go and be what we are.  Have you noticed how Jesus says we might fail to have the impact that we are to have?

1. 1)    We can fail by being uninvolved in the world. 

It’s possible to be light and to be hidden under a bowl.  We can be salt and all hidden in the cupboard too!  Salt and light have to come into direct contact with other things or they won’t have a positive effect. You don't have to make salt salty.  You just have to make sure it's pure and spread out.  Nothing is worse than eating a barrel full of salt.  You don't have to make light “lighty”, you have to let it shine. Jesus here is saying, “Get out into this dark and deteriorating world and I’ll use you.”

If we fail to touch the lives of an unbelieving world, we will fail to have the influence that Jesus has called us to have.  There are countless applications of Jesus’ teaching here.  This is one reason we urge LACers to be involved with the needs in the community – like homelessness, and public education and visiting prisons.  We can make a difference – but we need to be there and see what God will do through us!

1. 2)    We can fail by being indistinguishable from the world. 

Jesus warns solemnly, “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”  What Jesus is talking about here is the danger of becoming just like the world. 

So, we can fail to have an impact for Jesus if we gather up into closed church groups and fail to touch the lives of people in the world.  But we can fail just as miserably if we do get involved with people in the world and they see no difference from their own lives.  Jesus is saying that it’s possible for us not to bring light into the world but to be darkened by it. 

At this stage, it would be quite easy for me to move into a series of “dos and don’ts” for a Christian.  Instead, I simply must say that we must examine our lives carefully to make sure that there are some clearly distinguishable differences in how we live from those who do not know Jesus.  The presence of Christ should make a noticeable difference in all you do.  If you participate in the same entertainment, utilize the same business or marketing techniques, and lead in exactly the same manner as the world that is said to be in darkness, then something is wrong. 

Involved but indistinct.  That is the danger Jesus is talking about here.  Such salt, Jesus says, is "good for nothing..."  God save us from being good for nothing! 

But the task seems to be so huge and the evil seems to be so formidable.  How will the little bit of salt and light that we are really make a difference with all the trouble in the world – especially when we ourselves are not yet perfect?  Let me give you another principle:

The Principle of the Seeds:  God’s kingdom begins with what seems to be small but will grow to reflect his glory.  “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32)

       In Jesus’ world mustard seeds were the smallest seeds they planted and nurtured for growth.  A mustard seed, with proper maintenance reached ten to fifteen feet in height. God’s kingdom is like that.  Small acts in the name of Jesus will be waters and maintained by God and produce things we could never have imagined.  The principle is that God’s great things almost always start small!

       We should never lose sight of the tremendous potential that the word of God or that an act of love in the name of Christ has in this world. And with salt and light, it just doesn’t take much to make a difference. You don't need a lot of salt either to preserve the meat or to season an otherwise bland stew as long as it is mixed in and it retains its salty properties.  You don't need a lot of candles to see in a dark room provided the light isn't hidden.

       That is precisely the encouragement Jesus is giving to these few unlikely men who withdrew from the crowd that day to hear him teach.  Jesus was saying, "You can make a difference to the glory of God in your world!"  And these disciples did.  And you can do the same even though you may be the only Christian in your setting.

       I’ve shared stories with you about how this happened through Bob Pierce caring about one orphan in China and planting a seed in the name of Christ led to World Vision.  I told us about Mama Maggie hearing one isolated boy living in a garbage heap and caring – leading to a ministry touching tens of thousands of families.  They started small – and with challenges and resistance – but God did his kingdom work through their being present as salt and light and doing something. 

       And now, for many years, there has been a prison ministry that started at the east Lake facility in downtown LA.  It’s now headed up by LACer, Pat Miller.  Pat grew up largely without a father – a man who abandoned his kids, abused Pat’s Mom, lived in and out of prison, and eventually died on Skid Row.  But, Pat came to know Jesus and came to understand that Jesus cares about the wrongs in this world.  Pat knew Jesus can make enter our lives different.  One day, an intern Pat hired twisted his arm to visit a prison with him and do ministry there.  Pat already had a heart hungering for righteousness, mourned the effects of sin in the world, and wanted to serve people.  But he had to leave his comfort zone and go to the prison.  When Pat did go, he saw young people who had never experienced a loving family and had fallen into a lives of drugs, gangs, and illicit sex.  Pat’s heart, compelled by the love of Christ, led him to to go back to the prison over and over again – and eventually to lead the ministry.  In his ten years, Pat has seen 30-40 kids respond to the gospel each time he goes.  In other words, hundreds of young people have come to Jesus.  They include gangbangers, killers, and naïve kids who happened to make a bad decision.  Pat goes to tell them, “Jesus loves you.”  He wants to show them the love of Christ.  He is being salt and light.  But he has to go.  He comes to LAC to become saltier and shinier and then he goes – and God uses him and his team.

       And I want you to begin to pray about how you might be salt and light bringing good news to our world.  I want us all to leave this gathering hearing the words of Jesus transcend the years and speaking to us:

You – you are the salt of the earth.  You – you are the light of the world.

            Go and touch lives.  Go and shine to his glory.