The Barefoot Evangelist

Read Matthew 5:13-30 with your family.

Have you ever heard someone say, “Be salt and light”?

Those are Jesus’ words. He said them to the people listening to Him teach.

But what does that mean?

Think about salt. Without it, food tastes flat. Our bodies even need salt to work properly. Salt helps things be what they’re meant to be.

Now think about light. The sun helps us see in the day. Lamps and candles help us see at night. Light helps us feel safe and find our way.

We need both salt and light for everyday life.

So when Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world,” He was saying:

You help God’s world work the way it should.

You don’t have to be famous or grown up. Being kind, honest, helpful, and loving is already being salt and light.

Jesus also explained that He didn’t come to throw away the old teachings about God. He came to show what they were really meant to look like when lived with love.

It’s not about titles, buildings, or big words.

It’s about how we live.

Parents show children what God is like by how they treat others.
Children can be salt and light right now, just by how they act each day.

Jesus’ message is simple:

Help make the world good, safe, and loving for everyone.

That’s being salt.
That’s being light.