Salt or Pepper?

 

"You are the salt of the earth.  But remember

that salt is useful when in association, but

useless in isolation." 

~Israelmore Ayivor, Christian author

👀 "Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take, I'll be watching you."  

What a great song by The Police, though a bit strong.  But do you ever feel like you're being watched?  Like you are being judged because you profess to be a Christian, so people are evaluating your responses, your actions, your intentions?  

As Jesus says in the book of Matthew 5, we are to be the 'salt of the earth' (Matt 5:13).  What does that mean, as a follower of Christ?

👀 And what if sometimes we're more like pepper - spicy, with appearances of soil, and we make people respond with a sneeze - they just want to get us out of their system?  Are we kicked out for letting God down? (Why did I choose a cat for this one?)

What does salt do exactly?

👀 Salt enhances flavor- we want to flavor the world, to give a distinctive taste to being a Christian.  We don't want to blur the lines of a worldly lifestyle with a kingdom lifestyle.  He asks us to live an upside-down life, indicating His essential character of love, forgiveness and humility.  We are blessed when we humbly recognize our need for Him, we are merciful and work for peace.  This is in contrast to a world that glorifies self-sufficiency & exalting one's own rights.

👀Salt preserves - keeping something safe from harm or decay.  His precepts are always for our best and to protect us from the sinful decay of the world's influence.  The Lord set us apart:

"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.  You are royal priests,

 a holy nation, God's very own possession.  As a result, you can

show others  the goodness of God, for He called you out

of darkness into His wonderful light." 

1 Peter 2:9

👀 Salt causes thirst - the more we know God, the more we want to know God.  By reading His word, we learn about His character and how He wants us to live.  Our soul is nourished every time we choose to spend time in His word or talk to Him.  He sends His mercies every morning to us.

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.  

Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh every morning."

Lamentations 3:22-23

As for the peppery side that we sometimes show- we are works in progress, showered with His mercies and gently guiding hands of forgiving love.  

"The Lord will guide you always, He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched

land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered

garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." 

Isaiah 58:11

As we align our hearts with His, we ask forgiveness, turn from our former ways, and believe that He is faithful to forgive as He promises (1 John 1:9).

👀 The world is looking.  Enhance the flavor of God's ways, preserve His truth, and direct a thirsty world to His living water.  

✙ Dear Lord, we desire to be Your salt, but sometimes mess up (as You know😁).  We try to do it ourselves, and fall short.  We need Your Spirit to work through us daily- to see those who are thirsty but don't know where to go.  Help us to be the salt of this earth and show love that comes from You.  Amen.