You Are
Wednesday’s Verse:
From Matthew 5:13 NIV
Jesus said, “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.”
Jesus calls us “salt.” Think about how salt works—it’s quiet. It preserves, it adds flavor, and it naturally brings out the best in whatever it touches. Back in Jesus’ day, salt was incredibly valuable precisely because it served people in these simple, essential ways. That context changes how we look at His words when He calls His followers “the salt of the earth.”
Notice that Jesus doesn't say, “Try hard to become salt.” He simply says, “You are.”
Through faith, God has already given us this identity by His grace. It isn't something we earn through our own heavy lifting. Because we belong to Him, our lives naturally begin to season the world around us. And usually, that shows up in the simplest way possible: how we love our neighbors.
Real love rarely looks dramatic. Most of the time, it’s just being patient with a difficult coworker or choosing a kind word instead of criticism. It’s listening to someone who is hurting, helping someone who can't repay the favor, or just showing up to do your daily tasks faithfully. These moments feel small, but this is exactly how God tends to care for the world—through ordinary people living out everyday lives.
Salt is only useful when it actually touches something else. In the same way, we aren't meant to pull away from the world, but to step into it and serve. We don't do this to win God's approval; Christ already secured that for us through His death and resurrection. The Gospel frees us up to look outward and care for the people right in front of us.
And when we stumble at this—as we all do—Christ doesn’t pull away. He forgives us, restores our hearts, and sends us right back out to serve in His name.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Gracious Father, help out words and actions reflect Your deep mercy and love, showing us to be “the salt of the earth.” Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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