【双语灵修】光和盐 Salt and Light

“你们是世上的盐。” - 太 5:13

当我们看到一袋薯片或一盒饼干上写着“低钠”时，有多少人会真正为此感到兴奋呢？

我想，可能没有一个人。

因为盐很美味啊。这就是为什么薯片、饼干、炸薯条、比萨饼和许多其他东西味道可口的原因。盐的存在是为了使食物更美味。这是神赋予它的使命之一。

在这段经文中，耶稣说我们是“世上的盐”和“世界的光”。祂并没有说我们“可以”或“应该”成为这些东西。祂说，因着我们在祂里面的新身份，我们已经就是了。耶稣期望我们祝福他人，建立他人，并尽我们所能帮助他人满足其需要。祂期望我们的言语和行动在这个黑暗的世界中彰显卓越，将人们引向神的国度。

这并不限于教会中的正式事工。我们对待配偶的方式，与同事交谈的方式，以及使用我们的资源或参与社交媒体的方式，都是我们蒙召成为光和盐的榜样。生活中的每一个领域都为我们提供了做光做盐的机会。

如果我们与基督步调一致，将祂的旨意优先于我们自己的意愿，我们就会像受欢迎的调味品，提高好食物的味道，或者像一座灯塔，照亮这个黑暗的世界。

祷告

父啊，请帮助我在所处社区中成为光和盐，用我的言语和行动来向世界展示你的样子。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

马太福音 5:13-16

13“你们是世上的盐。盐若失了味，怎能叫它再咸呢？以后无用，不过丢在外面，被人践踏了。14你们是世上的光。城造在山上，是不能隐藏的。15人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。16你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。

Salt and Light

"You are the salt of the earth. . . ." - Matthew 5:13

OK, how many of us get really excited when we see a bag of chips or a box of crackers that says “reduced sodium”?

Well, probably none of us.

Because salt is delicious. It’s why chips and crackers and French fries and pizza and many other things taste good. Salt exists to make food better. That is one of its God-given purposes.

In this passage Jesus says we are “the salt of the earth” . . . and “the light of the world.” He doesn’t say we “can be” or “should be” these things. He says we already are, by way of our new identity in him. Jesus expects us to bless people, to build them up, and to do what we can to help meet their needs. He expects us to use our words and our actions to stick out in this dark world, pointing people to the kingdom of God.

This isn’t limited to formal ministry in the church. The ways we treat our spouses, talk to our coworkers, and use our resources or engage with social media are all examples of how we are called to be salt and light. Every sphere of life presents us with salt and light opportunities.

If we walk in step with Christ, putting his desires ahead of our own, we are like a welcome seasoning to enhance the taste of good food, or like a beacon of light shining in this dark world.

Prayer

Father, help me to be salt and light in my community, and to use my words and my actions to show the world what you are like. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.