How to be salt and light?

This is an emotional day. We drive several hours to say goodbye to my first cousin. She died December 31, not unexpected, yet we were not ready for it. I’ve asked others to pray. We may be the only Christians at her funeral and want to be salt and light. Today’s devotional reading says this is possible:

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

Yet is it boldness that gives others a vision of Jesus? He was bold. Or is it compassion? He wept with Mary when her brother died. Or is it His teaching? Or His patience? How do others see Jesus in His people?

Years ago, a woman made a statement about her desire to reveal Jesus to others. She was told by her friends, “When you try to be like Jesus, all we see is you, but when you are just yourself, we see Jesus.”

Experience interprets what she meant. Self-effort does not do it. Trying to be like Him is not role-playing. It is more like being transparent, open about who I am so that the One who lives in me can be seen. No layers. No pretense. No covering mistakes or shortcomings. Integrity, honesty, focused on others, not worrying or even trying to be what I think they want me to be. In short, being filled with the Spirit and not full of self.

This can be uncomfortable. Should that happen, the Spirit might be ignored and that salt/light thing does not happen.

Jesus preached in the Beatitudes about the things that can make me uncomfortable. It is not usually fun to mourn but He said “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” I’m convinced He was not talking about a funeral but about mourning over my sin. To do that, I must honestly admit that I sin.

He also tells me to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, pure in heart and a peacemaker. These qualities are not normal human ambitions. The next one is even more so: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake… when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

That response from others could keep me hiding behind a layer of whatever it takes to make people like me, but Jesus says when persecution happens, I’m to “rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
After these words, Jesus then delivers this bottom line:

“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.” (Matthew 5:1–16)

So I want to be salt and light? Then I need to die to the old and walk in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, no matter what He asks of me and without any hesitation or resistance. I’m not to focus on my comfort — just trust Him to take care of it, and aim for His glory, not my own. Be myself? I’m certain that quote meant that I be an open book. A book left closed, even if it has a lovely cover, means no one can read the truth that is in it.

PRAY: Jesus, You are able to reveal Yourself in all sorts of ways. I could back into a corner and see what happens, but that is tossing salt to the wind and covering light with a basket. I’ve no idea what You plan to do today, but if it involves me, how can I not be willing? The timing of this devotional for this day is no coincidence. You always know what I need to hear from You and when I need to hear it.