The Salt of the Earth

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The Salt of the Earth

A proper amount of salt  in every mammal’s diet  is essential  to good health.     A lack of salt causes a body  to languish  and leads  to other health problems.     Such is physical salt.     And,  we all need a spiritual salt also.     This whole world  is languishing  for need  of the necessary spiritual salt  in their lives.

Just look at what is happening  for lack of spiritual salt.     People don’t bat an eye  at having an abortion.     Child prostitution is rampant  in many parts  of the world.     We are being told  that homosexuality must be accepted  as a normal lifestyle.     Adultery is so commonplace  that marriage is being considered old-fashioned — but same-sex marriages are the  in thing.     Political corruption is considered “necessary”  in order to get things done.    And,  the list could go on and on.

The spiritual salt  that is needed is  the preaching of God’s word  of salvation  through Christ alone.     People are  in great need  of the law and the gospel  so that their spiritual health  may be restored  and so that they may gain  eternal life  through Jesus Christ.     Jesus preached  to the multitudes about this  in Matthew 5:13, saying,

You are the salt  of the earth;  but if the salt  has become tasteless,  how will it be made  salty again?     It is good  for nothing any more,  except to be thrown out  and trampled  under foot  by men.

What is Jesus telling us?     There are some important qualities  of salt  that need to be considered.    Salt is white.     So?    The color white  in our culture represents purity.     Next,  salt prevents the rapid decay  of things.     In the early days  before refrigeration,  salt was the only preservative they had  for meats and other foods.    Along with that,  salt preserves the nutrients and flavor  in foods.     There’s no sense  in eating foods  that have no nutrition left  in them  and nobody wants to eat things  that taste bad.     So,  for health and flavor,  salt is vital.

When Jesus calls us salt,  He’s saying  it is our job — our job — to prevent moral rottenness  in this world.     If we Christians don’t do the job  of preserving high moral standards  in this world,  this whole world  will go to hell  in a handbasket  —  and maybe us included.

In our job  of preventing moral rottenness  in this world,  we must be sharing God’s word  with those around us.     It is only God’s word  that can bring people  to salvation and changed lives.     But,  this word of God  will be made ineffective,  if the world sees us living immorally.     Jesus made us pure and holy  by dying for us  on the cross.     We need  to live according to the sacrifice Jesus made  on our behalf.     As the world sees this purity in us,  they will be able  to learn the difference  between the putridness of their sin  and the goodness of holy living   —  even if they don’t change  their hell-bound living.

So,  we need to preserve and flavor  this world  with the gospel  and our life style.     Jesus questions our lack of desire  to share God’s gospel  and live pure lives  for our Lord.     That shows an extremely serious problem  in our lives.     Do we really want  to be so wishy-washy  with this world  that we are afraid  to share God’s word  with another sinner?     Do we really want  to be responsible  for someone going to hell  forever and ever?

If we lack the love  that it takes  to persistently share God’s word,  then we will be responsible  for their demise.    Our love for another soul is  the main quality  in our spiritual saltiness.     Do we love others  or not?

Do we care enough  about all the abortions,  homosexuality,  political corruption,  liberal agendas,  politically correct twistings,  etc.  to speak up  and walk the talk?     Jesus said  we are making ourselves worthless  in this world,  if we refuse to stand up  for what is right,  and pure,  and holy.     That is a very serious statement  from God.

We do need to pray  that God would strengthen us  to be good salt  in this world  —  because the immoralities taking place  are getting worse  —  and we are held responsible  for just speaking out  every chance we get.

As we look to God  our Help  and our Savior,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  You have given us  life and forgiveness  in the blood of Christ.     Strengthen us in Your word  that we may be good salt  to everyone  in our lives.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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