Salt And Light

“Ye are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13–14)

Jayden stared at the message on his phone. “Come on, bro. Everybody’s doing it. Don’t be so serious.” He looked around the school cafeteria. His friends were laughing loudly at a video they had just posted about another student, Marcus, who had recently transferred to the school.

Jayden knew the video was cruel. Marcus had a speech problem, and some students had started making fun of the way he talked. Someone had recorded him answering a question in class and turned it into a joke. Now the video was spreading through the school. Jayden’s friends thought it was hilarious.

Jayden didn’t. He slipped his phone into his pocket.

“What’s wrong with you?” his friend Tyler asked. “Nothing.” “You’re not laughing.” Jayden shrugged. Inside, he felt uncomfortable. He remembered something his youth leader had said the previous Sunday: “Being a Christian isn’t just about what you do inside church. Jesus called you to be salt and light wherever you go.” At the time, Jayden had nodded along with everyone else. Now he was wondering what that actually meant.

After lunch, Jayden walked toward his next class. He passed Marcus sitting alone on a bench. For a moment, Jayden considered walking past. It would have been easier. If he stopped, people might think he was taking Marcus’s side. His friends might make jokes about him too. But then he remembered Jesus’ words: “Ye are the light of the world.” So Jayden stopped.

“Hey, Marcus.” Marcus looked up. “Hey.” “You okay?” Marcus forced a smile. “Yeah.” Jayden could tell he wasn’t. After a few seconds, Marcus said quietly, “I wish people would just leave me alone.”

Jayden sat beside him. “I saw the video.” Marcus looked down. “Everyone has.” Jayden didn’t know what to say, so he simply said, “I’m sorry.” Marcus looked at him. “For what?” “For laughing at things I shouldn’t have laughed at.” Marcus didn’t answer immediately. Then he smiled slightly. “Thanks.”

It wasn’t a dramatic moment. There were no cheering crowds, no music, no applause. Just two teenagers sitting on a school bench. But something had changed. A little light had entered a dark moment.

Later that afternoon, Tyler approached Jayden. “Why were you hanging out with Marcus?” “Because he needed someone to talk to.” Tyler laughed. “You’re becoming Mr Nice Guy now?” Jayden smiled. “Maybe.” Tyler shook his head. “You know people are going to think you’re weird.” Jayden thought about that. Maybe they would. Following Jesus had never been about being popular. It was about being faithful. “I’d rather be weird for doing the right thing than popular for doing the wrong thing,” Jayden said. Tyler stared at him. “Whatever, man.” He walked away.

Jayden’s heart was beating fast. He had never considered himself brave. But perhaps being salt and light wasn’t about doing something huge. Maybe it was about making the right choice when the wrong choice was easier.

That evening, Jayden opened his Bible and read Matthew 5:13–16 again. “Ye are the salt of the earth.” He thought about salt. A little salt can change the taste of an entire meal. It doesn’t need to be the biggest ingredient. It just needs to make a difference.

Shine where you are

You don’t have to wait until you’re older to make a difference. You don’t need a microphone, thousands of followers, or to be famous. You simply need to allow Jesus to shine through you.

• Be salt when someone needs encouragement, when your friends are choosing gossip, and when you have an opportunity to bring peace.
• Be light when someone feels forgotten, when everyone else is choosing darkness, and when standing for what is right costs you something.

Your school, your friends, your family and your community need your light. And somewhere around you, there may be a Marcus who simply needs someone to sit beside them and say, “You’re not alone.”

Jesus didn’t say, “You might become the salt.” He said, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” He didn’t say, “One day you may become the light.” He said, “Ye are the light of the world.” So don’t hide your light. Don’t waste your influence. Don’t underestimate the difference one faithful young person can make.

Be the salt. Be the light. Let Jesus shine through you. And remember: you don’t have to light up the whole world at once. Sometimes God simply asks you to shine where you are.