Matthew 5:13-16 says, "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."
This passage really calls us in to exemplify God in the world and to live a life that upholds the Christian values we are taught through the word to the great Post-Christian World. Likewise, if we believe (as we should) that our faith begins in the home, Deuteronomy 6:7 teaches us to "Impress them [Godly ways] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Yet, if living in the world and being that salt of the world that Jesus talks about is so important; how do we impress this on our families when there are so many things in this world that can pull us away from structured devotion time, worship and even prayer?
It's not an exaggeration to say that we are all busy and time constraints relating to everyday life and work/school obligations are real. They are and they can greatly shape the way we structure out days. Not only time constraints, but also negative reactions to devotion time, worship, and prayer and really discourage us from making these things a forefront priority in our lives! For those of you who are parents, how many times have you asked your children to come read the bible with you or get ready for church on Sunday mornings; only to be met to a sigh, whine, or eye roll? Have any of you been the ones to give the sigh, whine, or eye roll? It can make us feel like the fight is not worth our time as we try to put God at the center of our lives; but, the important thing to remember is diligence matters.
Whether you are trying to make sure you yourself are putting your faith at the front of all you do or are working to mold your children into Jesus-loving young believers, every bit of effort you put into your time with God helps to consciously and sub-consciously show that there is an importance in being faithful in worship and fights against Satan's plan to make us leave our faith behind because "faith is too hard." Parents, your diligence in your and your children's faith will help them to form and shape their lives based on their understanding of God's role in them for the rest of their days. And in such diligence, we must seek every opportunity to make God the center part of our lives.
Whatever begins behind closed doors bleeds out into the greater community and impacts not only yourself and your family but also your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and strangers; on and on until you are, in fact that real life salt of the earth and city on a hill.
