Matthew 5:13-15…”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 trumpled 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. “
Obscurity is not the portion of a believer. This statement was shared a few weeks ago during a prayer meeting. It was a call to push those of “us” who were shy or afraid of sharing our testimonies during the call. It really hit me hard and the rest of “us” who were comfortable standing in the shadows in public forums like that one. Often club “us” can come off as elite because we think we’re being perceived as mysterious and mature and wise. But is that really what we have been called to as Christians?
It is more of a heart issue than a personality trait (wink wink introverted Christian). Fear, shame, pride, and even unbelief can be the quiet culprits behind our silence. It’s easy to hide behind the excuse of being “private” or “lowkey,” but when Jesus speaks in Matthew 5, He doesn’t leave it as an option. He says we are salt. We are light. It’s not something we aspire to become; it’s who we are because of Him. The real question then is: Am I living as salt and light, or am I hiding the very thing the world desperately needs?
Salt by nature preserves, flavors, and heals. In the ancient world, salt was precious — a symbol of covenant and purity. Light by nature reveals, guides, and brings life. It pushes back darkness without even trying; it simply shines because that’s what it was made to do. In the same way, we are called to preserve the truth in a culture that is rotting with lies. We are called to bring the flavor of Christ’s love in a world growing tasteless with indifference and selfishness. We are called to shine even when the darkness feels overwhelming, even when shining makes us vulnerable.
There have been times I stayed quiet because I feared being misunderstood or judged. Times I downplayed my testimony because it didn’t sound as dramatic as someone else’s. Times I convinced myself that someone else could do a better job sharing, so I might as well stay silent. But now I see that every testimony matters. Every flicker of light matters.
You don’t compare candles; you simply light them.
When we refuse to be salt and light, we aren’t just “staying humble.” We are withholding hope from someone who may desperately need it. The enemy would love nothing more than for believers to muzzle themselves — to stay hidden, to blend in, to dim their light just enough not to make anyone uncomfortable. But Jesus calls us to be a city on a hill, visible and unmistakable.
There’s a cost to shining. There’s a cost to being salty in a bland world. People might misunderstand you, dislike you, label you as “extra” or “too much.” But there’s a greater cost to hiding — the cost of missed opportunities, silenced testimonies, and people stumbling in darkness when you could have shown them the way.
Just to reiterate;
Obscurity is not your portion. Fear is not your portion.
Shrink-back syndrome is not your inheritance in Christ.
You were lit up for a reason.
The beauty is that God doesn’t ask us to shine out of our own strength. We shine because His Light is already in us. We sprinkle salt not because we are perfect, but because He has preserved us first. So whether it’s sharing a word at a prayer meeting, encouraging a friend who’s struggling, living out my faith boldly at work or in school, or even posting that testimony online — I want to show up. I want to shine. I want to be salty.
Someone’s faith might be stirred just because I chose not to hide.
Love and Light♡
Sandrah✨