Stay Salty

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
Matthew 5:13 (NLT)

Ok, I didn’t come up with the title myself – it is actually the catch phrase for an electrolyte powder called LMNT. It is however the ultimate answer to the question Jesus asks in the verse above. This verse and it’s companion verse about light are part of what we know as the Sermon on the Mount.

Let’s talk about salt. Anyone who does any kind of cooking knows that salt makes things taste better, because it enhances the flavor of things. Some of you might also know that it is really good at preserving some kinds of foods. A lot of us know that salt is a natural mineral and that it is important to our health.

Jesus indicates that it is possible for salt to lose its flavor, but how?

Here’s what I learned. Pure salt will not lose its saltiness. Salt can be diluted in water but, if you let the water evaporate the salt will still be salty. However, if salt gets contaminated it will lose its flavor.

So what’s the point, why did Jesus ask the question? He told his audience that they were the “salt of the earth.” I think He was telling the crowd, look if you are following me and are believing what I’ve just said about God blessing… (Matthew 5:3-12) I want you to keep the real thing the real thing. Preserve the message, keep it pure and use it to enhance your life and the lives of those around you. The question about salt losing its saltiness and making the salt worthless, is about letting the truths of the Kingdom be contaminated, contaminated by the Law, by the world, by all sorts of things.

So here we are today, He still calls us the salt of the earth – pure salt. So I want to encourage all who are reading this, not to let the salt of your life get contaminated by the things going on in the world around you. Instead, let the saltiness of your faith make a difference for good in the world.

Let me know your thoughts on being the salt of the earth. Know someone who might be encouraged by this email – please share. I will be praying for you. Until next week – keep your eyes on Jesus.