Before embarking on the body of the sermon, Jesus explained in two-word pictures the impact that a truly righteous person would have on his or her world. The entire sermon, including the Beatitudes before and the many teachings after, shows us how to live as “salt and light” in the world as representatives of another kingdom.  Jesus is continuing in the vein of these tangible things that should exist in the lives of all believers. What Does Jesus Call Us To Be? 1. Salt Matthew 5:13  Jesus’ followers could easily relate to the properties and benefits of salt as described in Jesus’ metaphor.  Salt seasons and flavors food, just as Christians should enhance and favorably influence the people and society around them. Salt is a preservative, just as Christians and the church should resist moral corruption and decay, preserving a godly influence on the culture. Individual Christians and churches that lose these qualities will become spiritually “lukewarm,” a condition that suppresses or destroys the activity and power of the Holy Spirit.  As a result, these Christians who are not seasoned with salt will be “trampled by men,” which means they will end up giving in to the ways and values of an ungodly society. Taking this path will bring destruction in the end. Our job as followers of Christ is to preserve the values that God has given us in our world. We should want to marry and have a lot of kids because that is not what our world is doing. The nationwide birth rate fell significantly between 2007 and 2022, dropping from 14.3 births per 1,000 people to 11.1, or nearly 23%, per new CDC data. Our world has gone away from traditional family values. The kingdom servant who does not live according to his nature as salt is useless to the king’s advancement of the kingdom on earth. One might even question the genuineness of such a person’s kingdom citizenship. The world we live in is only getting worse by the day; we have to stand firm on the truths and values that we find in God’s word. 2. Light Matthew 5:14-16 In Jesus’ time, people used small clay lamps that burned olive oil drawn up by a wick. As Christians, we should be like these simple lamps, providing light in the spiritually dark conditions of this present world. Our lives should stand out from others in society in a positive and spiritually enlightening way. We should actively look for ways to assist others and meet their needs at home, school, on the job, and in every aspect of life. Through practical service and loving interaction, we open the door to sharing Christ’s bold and true message. Then, we will more likely be able to influence people to consider Christ’s claims, believe his Word, and yield their lives to him. 3. Influence  Both a city on a hill (5:14) and the lamp … on its stand (5:15) fulfill their function by being elevated so many people can see their light over a broad area.  The Christian’s life and influence are to be visible and obvious, not secret or hidden. We must not camouflage our devotion to Christ but humbly do all we can to allow its truest colors to be seen where we live. The term translated praise means “to make manifest or visible.” By living righteously, we make the Father’s character visible when we shine our light before others.  As Christ's followers, we expect that influence is a given, but we live in a culture where influence is earned. What are our transformational moments? How salty are you? Are you shining a light on all you come in contact with? Are you an influencer for the Lord?