A favorite singer/songwriter of mine is Sara Groves. A few years ago she released a song entitled, "You Are the Sun."
You are the sun shining down on everyone
Light of the world giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant I can hardly take it in
And everywhere You are is warmth and light
And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still You have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can't be a light
Unless I turn my face to You.
The song still resonates with me. Because I wrestle every day with the desire to gratify my own sinful nature, I am just like the moon. I have no source of light. I am cold. I am dark.
Such would be my sad state today except for this: As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51). Some have said that Jesus "set His face" toward Jerusalem. He kept His appointment at the cross where He suffered and died. He endured the darkness of Calvary. He suffered for our cold hearted ways. In His resurrection from the dead He triumphed over the prince of darkness. And now, in all His brilliant glory, Jesus calls us to be salt and light.
You are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). Salt is a preservative. It provides seasoning. Jesus seasons us with His rich mercy and grace so that we might go out into the world and extend the same mercy and grace to others.
You are the light of the world ((Matthew 5:14). And as we turn our faces to our Lord and Savior, the Light of the World shines His light upon us. He has made us to shine. As we do so, all those around us may be able to see the difference Christ makes in us. They feel the warmth of His love in our words. They see the brilliance of His compassion in our actions. All this happens when we turn our faces to Jesus who is warmth and light.
Be salt! Be light! May the light of Jesus' love reflect off of you and into the lives of everyone you meet today.
