A couple of weeks ago Louisville hosted the annual Hot Rod show. Ten thousand mostly brightly colored, distinctive hot rods permeated our city. No matter where you went in Jefferson County, those unusual cars reminded you that there were ten thousand guests in town. It was most noticeable not when they were gathered at the fairgrounds, but when they were dispersed in the community. Think of it this way: there are twice that many people who are members of this church. Southeast people are everywhere. If we would just set a Christ-like example we could illuminate the entire city spiritually.

Ephesians 5:8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." Some Christian people misinterpret this and conclude, "This means I don't ever have to say anything about Christ; I'll let my light shine by my good example." The example does come first. You have to win respect before you have the right to be heard.

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But there are two essentials to letting your light shine. One is the positive example, the other is the verbal witness. Both are needed or God doesn't get the glory — you do. For example, here's a Christian schoolteacher who goes out of her way to be kind and patient with her students. She stays after school to help. She drives a student home. She writes notes of encouragement. She is beloved. But if, during the course of a year, she never says anything about her faith in Christ, at the end of the year when the students say, "Thank you, for a wonderful class," they go away giving glory to her rather than to God. They praise her as a wonderful person. That's the very thing we're not to do.

Jesus said, "If you give a cup of cold water, you will receive your reward." No, He said, "If you give a cup of cold water in my name, you'll receive your reward." The name of Christ is to be brought in.

So somewhere along the line when the student says, "Thank you, Teacher, for being so helpful to me," the teacher needs to say, "I did that because the Lord is patient with me." Or, "I did that because I'm a Christian." Or "I did that because you're going straight to hell if you don't change!" — something real tactful like that!

How can we be salt and light most effectively? Last week we began our study of the Sermon on the Mount by looking at the first four beatitudes that deal with our relationship with God. The next four beatitudes focus on our relationship with people. They suggest practical ways that we can help preserve the truth. Here's how you can most tactfully "declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." One of the best ways to influence the world for Christ is to show mercy to the hurting. Many unbelievers reject our message as being irrelevant and they accuse Christians as being hypocrites. But there's one virtue that impresses everyone in the world: deeds of mercy to those who are hurting.