These words Jesus spoke to His disciples, ‘You are the salt of the earth.’ Disciple is another word for pupil. And if we are truly pupils and followers of Jesus, He also tells us, ‘You are the salt of the earth.’ Salt is a means of preservation and when salt has lost its saltiness, decay can set in freely.
Are we really a preservative in this world? As Christians, do we really affect the course of events of this world in which we may live? If that is no longer the case, Jesus says, ‘How can it be made salty again?’
Then we - as believers - are no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (:13b).
If the power of Jesus Christ is no longer noticeable, if the Spirit can no longer inspire us to deeds (Daniel 11:32), then the church has lost its function and degenerates into a troublesome institution that will only ridicule the name of its Lord.
But the faithful, who follow their Lord and want to be taught by Him, will be - each individually but particularly together - a town on a hill, a place of refuge for those who want to take shelter there.
Then, especially in times of darkness, we are a light on a lampstand, shining on all who come closer. Then people will glorify the Father for the works they see done by us. Not works of our own invention to impress others, but the works which God has prepared in advance for us before the creation of the world, to do them in His power.