Monday, April 1, 2013

Salt of the Earth

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“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." (Matthew 5:13 NKJV)

What does it mean to be "the salt of the earth?" Lately I have done some research in this area and I have found most will point to one or two different ways in which we are "the salt of the earth." One of them being, "salt is a flavor enhancer or seasoning." That is, we make life better for others. Another way being; "salt is a preservative." That is, we hold back the moral decay of society. The second is the way is the way I have usually viewed the meaning of the phrase; "you are the salt of the earth." I would agree fully with either of these interpretations, however, I have discovered that there are more ways than just these two to be the "salt of the earth." What I have found is that there is a treasure of truth to be mined here in just these few words. Jesus said, "we ARE, the salt of the earth," not may be the salt of the earth. Therefore, I believe it is worthy to spend some time digging into this and find out how it is that we are the salt of the earth so that we may become "more salty." I plan to, Lord willing, do a series of posts on different ways we are "the salt of the earth." I will make a couple points this week and give one way we are "salt of the earth." In the near future, I will write about a couple other ways, and so on. A lot of this series will be based an a message given by Pastor Joe Schimmel of Blessed Hope Chapel in Simi Valley California. 

Point number 1:

You are treasured by God.

In the first century salt was a valued mineral. In fact, Roman soldiers were paid in salt, which is where we get the word, "salary" from. To demonstrate God's love for us, look to John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." We were made in the image of God, and He loved us so much, that He gave His only Begotten Son so that we could spend eternity with Him. How is it that me, a sinner, could be loved by a Holy, just and all powerful God? If you ever doubt if you are loved by God, just look to the cross. He gave His best for me, why in the world would I want to reject it?

Point number 2:

Salt is essential for life:

One of the ways salt is essential for life is that it regulates water balance. According to the Salt Institute, "salt is also important to hydrate our bodies." The world needs us Christians to bring them the living water so that they may live. If we do not take the Gospel of Christ to the lost, how will they hear and be saved? 

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14 NKJV)


14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15 NKJV)

The first way that we are the "Salt of the Earth":

Realize that we are made in the image of God, not evolved apes on a mission to share the message of Jesus with a lost and dying world.

18 comments:

  1. Wow Ken, I'm going to love this series!! :) Great idea.

    I never really applied salt being a preservative to the Christian salt to the earth. It is cool to think that we, being salt, are holding back the moral decay. I love this! This makes me think about 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. When the church is raptured the restrainer will be removed and evil will prevail in a most wicked way.

    I love how you brought together the idea of Christians being salt bringing the Living Water to those who have not heard the Gospel. I am excited to read your other thoughts on salt.

    Blessings,
    <><

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  2. Thank you Child of God for your comment and an excellent verse you shared here. I cannot imagine what it will be like when the restrainer is removed. May God bless you

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  3. Hi Ken,
    a lovely post on just how important it is that we do what we are called to do by God. Just as we all need the physical salt, so the whole world needs the spiritual salt. God bless you, looking forward to the next episode.

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    1. Brenda, Thank you for your comment. I pray that we all do as we are called to do by God. There is no greater work in the world. May the Lord bless you

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  4. This is wonderful Ken, and I am excited to read more! :) Just like it says in Matthew 5:13-16, we are called "salt" and "light". The salt and the light work together in harmony when we plant those (salty) seeds, watch them grow, and by letting our “light” shine! :)

    Blessings and joy for a wonderful week of praise friend!
    Denise

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  5. Denise, Thank you for your comment. Excellent point about the salt and light working together. Both are needed to draw people to the Lord. May the Lord bless you.

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  6. Hi Ken, thank you for sharing always insightful posts. Also, thank you for the link to Life Inspite of Me. Blessings to you and yours.....

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  7. Very good..sure wish I had a printer :)

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    1. Thank you Dee. I pray that you have a blessed weekend.

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  8. Salt makes everything taste better!! Also, when you leave salt out you begin to taste what the food (character) is really like...no more masking it!!

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    1. Interesting comment, Lori. Salt sure does make things taste better. This is definitely one of the things we are to do. My pastor gave an awesome sermon a few weeks ago on being "salt," and he focused on salt making things taste better. So should we, make things better as believers.
      Thank you for your comment and have a blessed weekend.

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  9. Thanks, Ken. Most of the time I don't feel like I'm worth much as any kind of seasoning but because of God, I am the salt of the earth. A good reminder!

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    1. Thank you for your comment, Peggy. I think most of us believers feel like we are not much seasoning, but praise God, He is through us. Have a blessed day,

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  10. I learned a lot from your post, Ken. When I supervised group homes, an elderly lady took the doctor's warning about too much salt, and cut out ALL SALT. She was in bad shape until we discovered the problem. We need salt and we need each other!

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    1. Think you Karen for your comment. I remember my late wife was on a strict diet, thus she did not get enough salt. This was a medically supervised diet, and the doctor instructed her to eat salt on the side. Sometimes she would forget and her heart started getting beating out of rhythm until she ate salt. Have a blessed day.

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  11. I love this exploration that you're doing, Ken. I learned more about *salt* here today. It also occurs to me that when we lose too much salt from our bodies, we can get in a dangerous dehydrated state.

    Perhaps the salt also aids in the retention of Living Water??? :)

    GOD BLESS!

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    1. Thank you Sharon for your comment and we certainly do not want to become dehydrated. May God bless you

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