Just like new plants sprout in the cracks of the sidewalk, faith can grow and develop in the cracks of our lives. Whether the cracks are cracks of time in our daily schedule or cracks in our lives from changes, pressure, or life in general, when we allow God's word to seep into the cracks, new things can blossom.
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In Matthew 5 as Jesus continues his sermon on the mount, he tells those listening "You are the salt of the earth;...you are the light of the world." Not you will develop into these things, but you are. You already have what it takes to flavor the world, preserve the good and heal the hurts. You already have the ability to shine forth and banish the darkness. What does it mean for us to be salt and to be light in the world around us?
Welcome to season four of Faith in the Cracks. I'm Pastor Karen Wright. Life has cracks, moments between activities, places where we feel fractured. This is the space where we listen for God in the ordinary moments of life, where we are reminded that just as cracks let things in, it's a space for light and love to shine through. So just like plants grow in the cracks of a sidewalk, let faith grow in the cracks of our lives, trusting that God is at work within us. Episode 5. You are. In the second part of the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 5 of Matthew's gospel, Jesus uses two images, salt and light. And he's talking to ordinary people. Some of his new disciples are fishermen, and so he's teaching them, and this is not doctrine, but explaining what it means to be about the kingdom of God. And he says, You are salt. Now, salt in the ancient world was really important. It not only gave food flavor, but it would preserve food. And salt has healing properties. So to be the salt of the earth is to exist for the sake of the world, to add flavor so life is not bland. To preserve the things that are good and true, to bring healing. And so for us, it means that faith is not just something within us. It's supposed to touch things around us. It's supposed to influence the way we speak and the way we treat people and how we show up. So a life of faith would make the world a little tastier. To taste a little more like grace, to taste a little more like justice. And it's not about overpowering everything, but quietly making things better. If you've ever watched cooking shows, they always talk about seasoning things throughout the cooking process. You see, salt works better as a flavor when it's blended into the dish. And so it's not about necessarily standing out, but making a difference. And then Jesus uses a second metaphor. He says, You are the light of the world. And light, like salt, doesn't just exist for itself. Light is what makes things visible. It shows the way, it pushes back the darkness. A lamp isn't meant to be hidden. You can't conceal a city on a hill. And our lives, whether we like it or not, should be shining for something. It should be driving back the darkness. It should help people see that which is real. But what I love about both of these images, Jesus doesn't say try to become salt or become light, or when you are salt or light, he says, you are. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. It's already within you to be salt and to be light. And so I wonder in our day-to-day life what that might look like, what that might look like. How do we flavor, give seasoning to the world? How do we preserve things that are good and right? How do we heal places that are hurting? Where do we shine our light to expose the darkness, to light the way? And so maybe it's doing one small act that brings a bit of hope to someone else. Maybe it's being calm in a tense situation. Maybe it's being kind that lets someone else see the goodness of God. And salt and light aren't necessarily dramatic. It's not about big and flashy, but we're called to be salt, to give flavor, to preserve, to heal, and to be light. Doing ordinary things, ordinary good, in quiet, faithful ways that shine a light on what is good and right in the world. So you are the salt of the earth, and you are the light of the world. Not someday. Not that day when you have it all together and you get it all right. But right here and now, just as you are. You are salt, and you are light. So go flavor the world. Go shine a little light. Until next time. Thanks for listening. New podcasts are released every Monday. If you like the show, share it with a friend, or scroll to the bottom of the episode description and support the show for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month. You can also check out my webpage at faithinthecracks.com. As you go through your week, remember you are a child of God and you are loved. May God seep into the cracks and bring forth new life.
