Salt

11/06/12 Matthew 5:13-16 "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. When our Lord spoke these words salt was not only common but necessary. Salt was useful to help purify, especially as it pertained to sacrifices that were required before Christ died as the once and for all sacrifice. The purer the salt the better it was. (Christ was without sin, He was absolute purity.) Salt was also used in food just as we do today and it made food much more pleasing to the taste. We as the followers of Christ should make life here on this planet a little more tasteful. Salt could well symbolize passion because salt makes one thirsty. When God’s people share His word some will want more. Salt was also penetrating. And we as believers should penetrate all of society. But I think what our Lord had in mind when he said that we are “the salt of the earth” was that we, as His people, should influence those around us in such a way that we preserve society. Salt will not prevent corruption but it will slow it down. When we speak truth and live for the Lord we are being that salt that our Lord referred too. For too long many have been silent and sadly the ‘salt’ is losing the ability to preserve our society. And what we are now seeing is a country that is decaying like meat that has no salt. And because the church is losing her ‘saltiness’ prayer is no longer allowed in schools, babies are killed as a means of birth control, and the Ten Commandments aren’t even allowed to be put on display. Same sex marriage is not only allowed but even encouraged. And if someone is offended by a cross then it must be taken down. And while all of this has been happening before our eyes where is the salt that is so needed? Have we lost our flavor? And if our flavor is lost then the church is no longer useful and there is nothing left but to throw her out and trampled on her! God forbid! Let’s go before the Lord and repent and turn from our wicked ways of apathy and silence and be what God says that we are. One more thing about salt: in order for salt to useful it had be broken into grains and spread out. Let’s go before the Lord in brokenness and then spread out and be the salt of the earth. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Col.4:6 Prayer: Lord, You are our only hope. Grant us repentance and be merciful to us. Restore us to the rightful place and grant us whatever is necessary to be the salt of the earth. In Jesus name, amen.