THRIVE Issue 06
A LITTLE SALT anybody?
When we hear salty, we may think back to a person who was talking about an issue and they continued to flavor it heavily with negative comments. We may think, Wow, that person is salty.
Salty in that context is negative.
But Salt in the Bible is good. We are called to be salt and light.
Called to Be Salt and Light
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt should lose its flavor, how shall it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16 (TLV)
We are called to be salt and light in our EVERYDAY lives.
I have an excellent example of this:
My friend had a son in baseball. Faithfully throughout that season she would cheer on the team. She would get into conversations with the other parents as they cheered for their sons. She loved watching her son and his team. One day a lady looked at her as they were sitting watching the same game and said, “Where do you go to church?” My friend said she was caught off guard thinking How does this lady even know I go to church? I’ve never said anything about God or church.
So, she told her what church she attended and why she chose that specific church. Then asked her back “So do you go to church?”
“No,” the lady replied, but then continued, “I used to… but I’m going to go back real soon.” My friend was a light right where she was. She was a light on the bleachers as she cheered for her son and his team. Her words were good and caused another to be thirsty for what she had.
Our light cannot be hidden even at a ball game unless you have lost your saltiness.
If my friend had been cursing, frustrated, throwing things, she would have come across as negatively salty. But by her just cheering and being enthusiastic and kind, this person saw her light, and her salt made her thirsty for what she had. She saw God in her and she wanted it for herself.
In the weeks following the lady returned to share that she was going to church once again. Guys… do you see how she impacted another person just by living her life, loving the Lord, her son, and the sport he played?
GOD USES OUR EVERYDAY LIVES TO IMPACT OTHERS!
Here is one more example. When my husband was out recently, a woman approached him calling him by name. She went on to tell him that years ago they had worked together and how he had impacted her life. At this point my husband was not even sure who she was. She went on to say, “You were always so kind to us.” She explained that after some of the meetings which he would have, he would always offer the extra food to those in the nearby office. She emphasized the point by saying, “You really made work a better place."
He graciously accepted the complement but told me, “Honestly, I don’t remember doing that.” Again, it is in our everyday lives that we can make a difference in other’s lives.
LET’S TALK ABOUT SALT
We are the salt of the earth. If you have ever been to the ocean, you KNOW that ocean water is salty. To some the salty water is distasteful. To others it is a welcome friend and the salt is not offensive. Either way you know it’s ocean water by its saltiness.
The ocean is the place you can expect to have salt water. That is how the church should be. When we come into contact with a Christian you should expect to see Christ’s difference in them.
Salt has many purposes.
Salt brings cleansing and healing. Think about if you get a tooth pulled, you may be told to rinse with salt water to stop from getting an infection and to promote healing. Similarly, we can be healed and cleansed by God. Then amazingly He helps us to use the same compassion and mercy that He showed us to help others in their healing journey.
Salt preserves. It protects food from putrefaction. Spiritual salt is also used to preserve us, keeping us from being spoiled by the temptations of this world.
Salt is also used to enhance the flavor of food just like spiritual salt is used to season our words. The speech of a believer is seasoned with the wisdom, grace, and kindness of God.
LIVING WITHOUT SALT
If we were to fill up with the world’s ways the church would lose its saltiness, it would be GOOD FOR NOTHING and the life within the church, would die. As the ocean’s inhabitants need salt water for life, we need the Spirit that brings life to us.
SALT and LIGHT
As a Christian we must fill up with the things of God, His Word, prayer, faith, and love by His Spirit. That is when our life will be seen as salt to the world. His love in us is seasoning, preserving, cleansing, and healing us that we might be transformed into His image. The light of Christ in us can be seen, and lead others to His throne of grace, mercy, and love. By being full of our God others will see a facet of Him through us.
How can you season the world around you today? It is the little things that make a big difference.
Go . . .
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 5:16 (NASB)
With much love and saltiness, (Lol)
Dawn