9-29-2009 Pass The Salt Please

Pass The Salt Please   September 29, 2009 ~Denise Grant       Mark 9:50 – "Salt is good for seasoning, but if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other." (New Living Translation)     The Bible's earliest mention of salt is the story of Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt when she disobediently looked back at the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah .  When King Abimelech destroyed the city of Shechem , he "sowed salt" on the city to express the completeness of its ruin.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus referred to his followers as the "salt of the earth. The apostle Paul, in Colossians 4:6, encouraged Christians to "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt".   So – what's the deal with all the salt talk?   Jesus used salt to illustrate the qualities which should be found in the lives of His children.   Leviticus 2:13 – "Every offering must be seasoned with salt, because the salt is the reminder of God's covenant". Just as salt was used with a sacrifice to remember God's covenant with His people, we should remember God's faithfulness. In the same way salt is refined through processing, God is faithful to work in us to refine the characteristics that keep us from properly serving and representing Him. Salt is a good symbol of God's activity in our personal life; as He penetrates our heart, preserves our soul and aids in healing.   Matthew 5:13 – "You are the world's seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." Just as salt is effective in giving flavor to food, we need to be effective in our Christian lives. If a seasoning has no flavor – what good is it then? When we lose the desire to "salt" the earth with the love and message of God – God says, we become useless to Him. If we make no effort to have an effect on those around us, we are of little value to God. And just as salt loses its flavor when it gets wet and then dries, "tasteless and worthless" Christians are those who blend into the world to avoid the cost of standing for Christ.   Salt preserves food from decay – in the same way our living moral lives can counteract the decay that in our society today. We can never enhance the flavor of Christ to those around us, if we fail to live pure lives.   We are to preserve the good in this world, to help keep it from spoiling and to bring new flavor to life. Doing so will require great planning on our part. It takes willing sacrifice, courage to step outside our comfort zones and the unswerving commitment to Christ's Kingdom.     If we are true Christians with "salt-like" qualities, we will choose to represent the peace of Christ at all times – wherever we go – whatever we say – and whatever we do – always understanding, someone is always watching.   Colossians 3:17 – "And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with him into the presence of God the Father to give him your thanks."  What impression do people have of Christ when they see and talk to you?   Being salty won't always be easy, but if we fail in this function, then we fail to represent Christ in this world – and after all – isn't that our job?   Colossians 3:14-15 – "Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts, and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body."   So – just how salty are you?         Father God,   Our deepest desire is to always mirror You in every area of our life – yet, we often fail to be Your salt of the earth. Help us season Your world and every person in it, with Your flavor of love. May the peace of Christ always rule in our hearts, our homes, our workplaces, our neighborhoods and our church. In Jesus' name, Amen. Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands. God is the source of my existence. He has become my Lord and my friend. It is He alone who keeps me functioning each day and the absolute only reason I bother to get up in the mornings. I am a precious daughter of the Most High King and I know that I am absolutely worthless without Him! Side by side with the Savior -  ...."I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". Philippians. 4:13  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14