Focus: Relevance (Pt.1)

Text: Mt.5:13,14

"Ye are the SALT of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the LIGHT of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."

You were never created in vain. No one should exist for nothing. No person is ever redeemed without reason or purpose.

Relevance begins from the point where you have discovered your role in life and the essence of your existence. Relevance results from usefulness, fruitfulness and faithfulness.

David served his own generation by the will of God, and that is relevance. To be useful and purposeful, that is relevance. To lead a life that positively impacts others, that is relevance. A man is relevant whose life is beneficial to others.

Jesus Christ says, "You are the SALT of the earth… You are the LIGHT of the world."

One essential fact about salt and light is that they do not exist for themselves. The light shines so that men can see by it. Men enjoy the savor of the salt in their foods. Without salt food is tasteless. Salt enhances taste. It brings out the sweetness of other condiments in your food. Salt and light have great influences. Light permeates darkness, and so does salt to food.

Jesus Christ describes John the Baptist as "a burning and a shining light" (Jh.5:35). John writes that "the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not" (Jh.1:5). Light conquers darkness. In fact, darkness is the absence of light. Darkness disappears when and where light appears.

Light kicks out darkness. It detects or exposes evil, showcases the good, and keeps darkness out. Light requires and prompts action.

Let your light shine! Let it shine! The light of a godly life - let it shine. The light of goodness and good works - let it shine. The light of righteousness - let it shine. The light of divine glory - let it shine. The light of knowledge, understanding and wisdom - let it shine. The light of Scripture and of the Spirit - let it shine. The light of divine revelation - let it shine. The light of truth - let it shine. The light of faith, love and hope - let it shine. The light of a good example - let it shine.

Paul admonishes us, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Phil.2:15). If the world cannot see your light, then you are not shining. Let the world see your light! 

Christ says to us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Mt.5:16). Christ says again, "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Mt.13:43). Let it shine! You cannot afford to live a life of irrelevance to God and to the world around you.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter