What God Wants: Be Salt and Light

Devotional

Day 1: Wake Up: Be Salt and Light Today

You are not meant to blend in or hide; you are meant to season and to shine. Salt brings out what is good, preserves what is fragile, and wakes up dull taste buds—so your presence should make people taste and see that the Lord is good. Light refuses to curse the dark; it simply turns on and guides people home. Because Jesus is alive and with you, you can step into ordinary places with extraordinary hope. Don’t tuck away your witness; place it where it helps everyone in the house. Let your life point beyond you to the Father who saves. [44:59]

Matthew 5:13–16
You are the earth’s seasoning, meant to bring out God’s goodness. If the salt goes flat, it can’t do its job. You are also the world’s light—a city on a hill can’t be hidden. No one lights a lamp to bury it under a basket; it goes high so the whole house can see. In the same way, let your life glow with good works so people notice and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Reflection: Where will you intentionally “turn on the light” this week—one room, workplace corner, or neighborhood spot where you will show up with hope and kindness so others can see the Father’s goodness?

Day 2: Add Value: Serving Any and All People

To fulfill what Jesus wants, adopt the posture of a servant who adds value, not a critic who keeps score. Look for practical ways to help—listening, showing up, meeting needs—so people taste grace before they hear a word of correction. Pride shuts doors; humble service opens them. Find common ground, not to compromise truth, but to build a bridge strong enough to carry the gospel. Don’t wait for an event; make your life the invitation by being present with people right where they are. The lost are not your project; they are your neighbors. [52:01]

1 Corinthians 9:19–23
Though free from everyone’s demands, I chose to become a servant to all so that more might be reached. With those under the law, I entered their world; with those outside it, I met them where they were—while staying faithful to Christ. With the weak, I walked gently in weakness. I tried to connect with all kinds of people so that, by every honest means, I might help some be saved. I do all of this for the good news, so I can share in its blessing with others.

Reflection: Name one person outside your church circle who needs someone to add value to their life; what specific act of service will you offer them in the next seven days?

Day 3: Know Who You Are in Christ

When you remember who you are—a blood-bought child of God—you stop praying timid, vague prayers and start praying with love, faith, and obedience. You don’t have to act like the world to enter the world; you enter it as an ambassador of Jesus. He has all authority, and He sends you with His presence, so you never walk into a room alone. Don’t settle for being a “good person”; let Jesus change your heart and then pray and live from that new life. Ask boldly, serve humbly, and expect God to move. He is with you always. [01:14:28]

Matthew 28:18–20
Jesus said that every realm—heaven and earth—belongs under His authority. So go and help people from every place become His disciples: baptize them into the life of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to live out all He commanded. And remember this—He is right there with you every step, until the story is complete.

Reflection: Think of one person who is hurting or sick; how will you pray for them this week—specifically, in Jesus’ name, with faith and love that match who you are in Him?

Day 4: Stop Cursing the Dark; Turn On the Light

God didn’t send His Son to point an accusing finger but to rescue, restore, and bring people into a whole and lasting life. So trade condemnation for compassion and argument for connection. Practice the “1% rule”: start with the small ground you share and build a real relationship that can carry truth. Enter people’s world with courage; God has not given you a spirit of fear. Be honest without being harsh; speak truth wrapped in grace. Let your light answer the darkness. [01:03:22]

John 3:16–18
God loved this world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who trusts Him won’t be ruined but will share real, eternal life. God didn’t send His Son to condemn the world, but to save it through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not under judgment; whoever refuses to believe stands judged already, because they turned away from God’s only Son.

Reflection: Who is one person or group you’ve avoided because of disagreement? What is one simple step you can take this week to listen well and find honest common ground?

Day 5: Love One Another, and the World Will Know

Love inside the family of God is the proof that we belong to Jesus. When believers forgive, serve, and prefer one another, the world recognizes a different kind of community. This love isn’t mushy; it is committed, sacrificial, and practical—like Jesus’ love for us. Let it shape your home, your friendships, and your church so that your life becomes a living invitation. Keep running the race to win: this is uphill work, but it is worth it. Let your love be the loudest sermon people hear. [01:24:54]

John 13:34–35
I’m giving you a fresh command: love each other the way I have loved you. Keep on loving like that, and everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—not by your labels, but by your love.

Reflection: Who is one brother or sister in Christ you’ve quietly kept at a distance? What concrete act of love will you offer them this week to rebuild trust and unity?

Sermon Summary

The focus is simple and strong: What does God want? He wants His people to be salt and light. Not hidden, not timid, not stuck in religious habits, but present in the real world with a real Savior who still saves. Matthew 5:13–16 sets the frame—carry flavor into a bland world and shine where darkness is thick. That call ties straight into the Great Commission. The way forward is not more church events; it is disciples who add value to people far from God, build real relationships, speak the truth with love, and live openly as those who belong to Jesus.

Being salt and light means entering the world without becoming like the world. It means serving “any and all,” not as moral policemen, but as ambassadors who listen, find common ground, and point people to Christ. The house of God is not a museum for the put-together; it is a family that welcomes addicts, doubters, the religious, and the irreligious, then walks with them toward freedom. Pride, finger-pointing, and fearful distance do not bring people to Jesus. Presence, humility, and honest love do.

The call includes identity and authority. Those who know who they are in Christ pray differently and live differently. They do not curse the dark; they turn the light on. They do not pray weak, vague prayers; they pray in the name of Jesus with faith, asking God to act and expecting Him to lead. And the proof is love. Jesus set the mark: “By this all will know you are my disciples.” Love that is patient, public, and practical is the apologetic. Love builds trust; trust opens hearts; and open hearts meet a living Savior.

This is not about being “nice.” It is about holy boldness—serving, telling the truth without hate, and seeking the 1% of agreement as a doorway to the gospel. Add value, keep your joy, and refuse to be distracted. Run to win. Speak the name of Jesus. And for those not yet born again, today is the day to call on the Lord and begin anew.

Key Takeaways

1. Be salt and light, openly. Salt does not help when it stays in the shaker, and light does not guide when hidden under a bushel. God’s people are meant to be seen, not for vanity, but so the Father is glorified. Distinctness and presence are the point: different enough to be noticed, close enough to be helpful. Refuse the safety of silence; turn the light on. [44:59]
2. Add value to the lost. Jesus’ way is not drive-by invitations; it is disciple-making that dignifies people and serves real needs. Adding value means listening, helping, and walking with people long enough for trust to grow. It is slow, personal, and costly—yet it opens doors events cannot. Serve first; explain Jesus soon; keep walking alongside. [52:01]
3. Seek common ground with courage. The “1% rule” looks for shared ground as a bridge to truth. It is not compromise; it is wise entry—beginning where a neighbor can say “yes,” so the conversation can continue. Listening is not losing. It is sowing in soil that can actually receive seed. [66:04]
4. Pray from your true identity. Those who know they are in Christ pray with clarity, authority, and love. Not performance prayers, but petitions grounded in His name and His will. Fear shrinks when identity is settled; faith expands when Jesus is near. Pray like sons and daughters, not like orphans. [71:36]
5. Let love be your apologetic. Jesus marked out the proof: love one another as He has loved us. Public love among believers carries weight in a cynical world and silences many accusations. Truth without love feels like attack; love without truth feels like neglect. Christlike love holds both, and people notice. [84:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:42] - Know Who You Are in Christ
[41:23] - What Does God Want From Us?
[44:59] - Called and Commanded: Be Salt and Light
[48:44] - Five Ways to Live as Salt and Light
[52:01] - Add Value to People Far from God
[53:25] - Great Commission vs. Great Invitation
[58:45] - Serve Any and All Without Fear
[64:35] - Citizens of Heaven: The 1% Rule
[67:46] - Know Your Identity; Wake Up, Church
[71:36] - Pray with Faith, Not Formality
[84:54] - New Commandment: Love One Another
[87:31] - Call to Salvation and Response
[98:16] - Vision: Adding Value in the Year Ahead
[102:35] - Gratitude and Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

- Matthew 5:13–16

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Observation questions

In Matthew 5:16, what is the stated purpose of letting your light shine “before men”? What outcome is Jesus aiming for?
In Matthew 5:15, why is a lamp put “on a stand,” and who benefits from its light? What does that imply about where light belongs?
It was said that the church is to serve “any and all.” What specific examples were named of people who should be welcomed and served? “You welcome a drug addict… a drunk… a prostitute… Yeah.” [58:45]
What is the “1% rule” as it was explained? Quote the line that defines it: “Instead of the 1% of what we disagree on, how about the 1% that we do agree on.” [01:06:04]

Interpretation questions

When Jesus says salt that loses its saltiness is “good for nothing” (Matt. 5:13), what might that imply about a believer who hides or dilutes their distinctiveness? What real-life choices cause “salt” to lose its bite?
“We ought to be adding value to the lost.” [52:01] How does this idea connect to Jesus’ call that people “see your good works and glorify your Father” (Matt. 5:16)? What kind of “value” points people to God rather than to us?
Identity shapes prayer. Consider this line: “When we understand who we are in Christ… When I pray, I’m not praying ‘if it be your will’… You already know His will.” [01:11:36] What does praying from identity (as sons and daughters) practically change in the way requests are made and expected?
Jesus marked love as the public proof: “This is how everyone will recognize… when they see the love you have for each other.” [01:24:54] Why would visible, patient, practical love among believers carry weight with a cynical world?

Application questions

Be salt and light, openly. Where will you “put the lamp on a stand” this week—what specific place or relationship needs your visible presence and good works for God’s glory? Name one concrete action you will take in the next 72 hours. [44:59]
Add value first. Who is one person far from God you will intentionally serve this week, and what’s one practical way you will add value to their life (listen, help, walk with them)? Put it on your calendar. [52:01]
Serve any and all. Be honest: is there a kind of person you tend to avoid (addict, skeptic, overly religious, irreligious)? What is one step you will take to welcome and serve “any and all” without fear? [01:00:26]
Practice the 1% rule. Think of someone you strongly disagree with. What is the 1% of common ground you can affirm to keep the conversation open? What is one question you will ask them this week to listen first? [01:06:04]
Pray from your true identity. Write one bold, clear prayer you will pray in Jesus’ name for a specific person or situation, then share it with the group. When and where will you pray it? [01:11:36]
Let love be your apologetic. What is one public, patient, and practical act of love you will do for a fellow believer this week that others might notice—and be drawn to Jesus by it? [01:24:54]
Run to win; don’t hide the Name. Where do you sense God nudging you to speak the name of Jesus with holy boldness (work, family, city, online)? What simple sentence could you say to honor Him there? [01:18:19]

Sermon Clips

Amen Here it is, what does God want from us? He wants us to be the salt and the light He commands us to be the salt and the light And not only that His desire is for us To be that salt and light To the world that's lost around us Can I get an amen? Do you believe that today? Do you believe that today? [00:45:43] (25 seconds) #SaltAndLight

It's just after Christmas right The birth of Jesus Christ Amen Our Savior Amen And we celebrate that But he ain't a baby no more baby He's up in heaven He is our advocate today He has died on the cross He's given us freedom today Amen And I'm not going to be under the bondage Of any funny fundamentalist Or anyone else That doesn't believe the word of God The way it's written Call me liberal [00:47:30] (28 seconds) #JesusIsOurAdvocate

Number one I want you to see We ought to be adding value To the lost Can I get an amen We ought to be adding value To the lost You see The Bible says Over in Matthew He says there In verse 19 Of the great commission Go ye therefore Making disciples Of all nations We have to add value To the lost You hear me preacher You can get up here And you can Prophesy all you want And not have a bit Of anointing on you Because you're not Going to follow God You've got too much pride [00:52:01] (43 seconds) #AddValueToTheLost

And inviting people in But how many of you know It's called The Great Commission Not the Great Invitation You get that today Oh but I'm going to Invite them to church I don't mind that I'm glad you're here today Amen Those that have been Inviting it But what I say to you Too is Who are you winning To Christ Come on amen And I'm going to show you How to do it First of all You've got to add value [00:53:41] (30 seconds) #GreatCommissionAddValue

Well you mean You welcome A drug addict In the church Yeah You welcome A drunk in the church Yeah You welcome A prostitute In the church Yeah We welcome you You mean You let somebody Come in a trench coat And stand in the back Yeah For three months I had a boy Stand back there In a trench coat When they were talking About shooting preachers In a trench coat The whole time Nobody even flinched [00:58:45] (33 seconds) #ChurchWelcomesAll

``God Didn't call You to be His policeman God Didn't call You to be The Holy Spirit He called You and I To a place Of grace And of Love Now that Doesn't mean Compromise And not tell The truth Because if You truly Love someone The way God loves Them You're Going to Be honest Can I Get an Amen You're not Going to Be hateful There's a Difference Between being Honest Today And hateful Can I Get an Amen You see We need To stop Cursing The dark And we Need to Be the Light And turn The light On [01:03:49] (39 seconds) #GraceNotPolice

I'm Not Waiting I'm Not Waiting I'm Going Out Into The World I'm Going To Meet People Where They're At I'm Going To Let Them See Jesus In Me Because That's What God Called Me To Do And As They See Jesus Brother I'm Hey I Don't Care About Having A Big Desk And A Big Office But I Want To Be Comfortable When I'm There For Your Sake Some Of It Ain't About Bubba It Ain't About You It's About Jesus Can I Get An Amen [01:20:49] (40 seconds) #MeetPeopleWhereTheyAre

That's Just The Way It's Going To Be If You Want To Go To A Dead Church I'm Sorry You Didn't Find One Here Amen Because You're Going To Find One That Believes In The Power Of Christ That Can Change Your Life Fact Not Fiction You're Going To Have A Family Not A Religious Body This Is Not A Religious Institution But This Is The Family Of God That's [01:37:47] (28 seconds) #FamilyNotReligion

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What God Wants: Be Salt and Light

Devotional

Day 1: Wake Up: Be Salt and Light Today

Day 2: Add Value: Serving Any and All People

Day 3: Know Who You Are in Christ

Day 4: Stop Cursing the Dark; Turn On the Light

Day 5: Love One Another, and the World Will Know

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

What God Wants: Be Salt and Light

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