Being the Salt of the Earth

Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of salt? High blood pressure and fluid retention? Maybe you think of one of many benefits that salt provides us: taste and flavor or the preservation of things that would perish without it. I'll spare you the details but salt is an essential nutrient in our body and at a cellular level without salt, you'd die. You wouldn't exist, you'd go back to dust. This isn't a plea for a high sodium diets, see your doctor about that, this is a plea for salty Christians.

Jesus says here that his followers are the salt of the earth. They are the indispensable electrolyte that is used to provide flavor and good taste and real, true vibrancy to life. Rebecca Manley Pippert wrote a book called "Out of the Salt Shaker and into the world: evangelism as a way of life". I haven't yet read the book but the title says so much. I love it!

If salt stays in the salt shaker it gets old and tasteless and isn't useful any longer. Jesus says it will be thrown out and trampled under people's feet because that's all its good for. So the question is, how do I get out of the salt shaker? How do I get out of the shaker and into the world? How can all of my life be organized and focused to be useful salt?

God has called each of us to a specific location. For some its mostly in the home being "salty" to their children and having salty interactions with other mothers and neighbors. For some its in an office somewhere. For some its in a classroom at school. No matter the location, Christians are the salt of the earth. You are the salt of the earth. That's exciting!

Father in Heaven, I am not worthy to be used by you. You've put me in the salt shaker, now by your grace I want to get out of the shaker and into the lives of those you have put around me. Thank you for using me as part of your grand plan of salvation.