In one part of this Sermon, Jesus tells us we are the salt of the earth. Why did he say this?
So, what is salt? It is sodium chloride, a stable compound. It is used to enhance flavor and preserve or slow decay. But it can only do these things as long as it stays pure.
Think about your favorite food. Now, imagine it without any seasoning. You won’t like it, will you? As my kids used to say, it’s “yucky.” One morning, I was eating eggs and noticed they were bland. They tasted OK, but something was missing. I ate a few more bites and decided to add salt. The next bite was delicious. The flavor of those eggs came out by adding just a tiny shake of salt. Then, as I ate more, I heard God whisper, “You are my salt.”
As we walk through life, we are God’s savory seasoning in the world. And like salt, we are to bring flavor and to preserve, or at least slow, the decay in those we meet daily.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Matthew 5:13
In this verse, Paul encourages us to share our salt with others, but we need wisdom in what we say to them. On the one hand, we should not speak in dull, predictable ways but be gracious and engaging in drawing others to a life with Jesus. On the other hand, our speech could be a reference to household stings, and we are stinging the conscience and awakening those lost to an awareness of the choice between sin and eternal life with Jesus.
Salt completely changes the taste of food; it flavors, preserves, and cleanses. The Holy Spirit is like salt in the believer’s life. We need it to add flavor, cleanse, and purify our hearts so that we are acceptable to God.
If we don’t add Jesus to our lives, we are like our favorite food without seasoning: “yucky” to those around us and no longer suitable. Are you living a salty life for Jesus?
Resources:
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.5.13
This month, I’m sharing ways to build a spiritual foundation. This is the first post.
