ln Matthew 5: 13-20, Jesus called us to a radical faith — to be salt and light in a decaying and darkening world, to submit to the authority of Scripture, and to surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. To help you do that, let me give you two don’ts and two dos.
First, don’t draw attention to yourself. Remember, your purpose as a Christian is to put the spotlight on Christ, not on yourself. When you live your life in wholehearted obedience to the Word of God, others will see your good works and glorify God.
Second, don’t hold back or hide under. If there is one thing that unbelievers living dark and decaying lives need to taste and see, it is people of faith. So get out of the shaker and turn on your light!
Third, do take the Word of God seriously. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” God doesn’t play around when it comes to His Word, and neither should we.
Finally, do follow the Word of God faithfully. For Christians, the Bible is the absolute rule of faith and life. There may be other sources of wisdom we can learn from, but Scripture is the only source of true righteousness. Believing God’s Word and obeying God’s Word are inseparably linked. As someone once said, “To believe but not to obey is not to believe at all.” But when you consistently follow God’s commands, you will become the salt that creates spiritual thirst in others and the light that illuminates the path to Jesus Christ.
Pastor Robert Jeffress appears this Tuesday and Thursday. Excerpted from 18 Minutes With Jesus by Robert Jeffress. Copyright ©2022 by Robert Jeffress. Published by Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Used by permission.
