Thursday, September 4th: Jesus gave world-shaping identity to ordinary people, not the elite, when he said, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” In first-century Galilee, salt preserved what was good and made it tasteable, while a single lamp lifted on a stand illuminated a whole room. In the same way, everyday disciples preserve trust, truth, and relationships and make God’s goodness visible in ordinary places. Jesus didn’t say, “Become salt and light after you’re impressive,” but you are—right now, where you live and work. Fame chases platform and metrics; faithfulness chooses presence and maturity. “Losing saltiness” warns us about blending in until our distinctiveness disappears, while “hiding under a basket” cautions us against fear, distraction, and image-management. This episode offers simple “salt practices” (reliability, truth-telling, hidden generosity) and “light practices” (hospitality, intercession, peacemaking, encouragement) to embody the Sermon on the Mount. Paul reminds us that in Christ we see people anew (2 Cor. 5:16–17) and put on the new self (Col. 3:10–11), so the ordinary becomes a site of new creation. The kingdom doesn’t need more ambitious Christians; it needs deeply formed people who show up with Jesus. In his hands, an ordinary life becomes a conduit of extraordinary grace.