Salt of the Earth

-

Scripture: Matthew 5:13 (ESV)

13 “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.[1]

 

Meditation:

            The culture seems to be rushing by the church in these days. Moving in more and more distasteful directions. Why should this be? I think we need only to look to the words of Jesus above to come up with a hint.

            We as Christians and thus the church are really not much like salt at all in our communities and even in our own families. We complain about the ways the culture has changed but feel powerless to do anything about it. When we do try to be salt we come off as grainy and hard making even our saltiness unpalatable. Therefore as Christ has said our saltiness is cast on the ground and walked upon. What is the secret to true saltiness in this world?

            Our saltiness must be after the example of our Lord Jesus. He never “salted” a situation without love for those to whom he was speaking. Whether it was the woman at the well, the tax collectors, or even the Pharisees his speech was always salted with love, he cared deeply about those to whom he was speaking.

            Salting our speech and actions with love is the secret to making a difference in our culture today. Unsalted speech and actions made without love and kindness are bound to be a turnoff in a culture where Christianity is not held in high esteem to begin with. So let us follow the path of the Savior and season our lives with love and kindness that we may be the salt of the world once again.

 

(Tune in tomorrow to discover the secrets to being the light of the world)


[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 5:13.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapt...
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcom...
Read more

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more