Salt of the Earth

Mark 9:50 (ESV)

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

Who ever said that salt is bad for you? Here are some things you may or may not know about this wonderful mineral!

Salt is essential for muscle movement, including that of the heart. It's necessary for the digestive tract to function properly --crucial for the transmission of messages by the nerve cells, and regulated osmotic pressure and the movement of fluid to and from the cell. Salt is found in blood, sweat, and tears. Hotter climates increase the need for salt consumption. Chronic deprivation of salt causes loss of weight, loss of appetite, nausea, muscular cramps and even stunts growth.

In the food industry, it is used in flavoring and seasoning, pickling, canning, preserving, baking, dairying, curing meat and fish, and processing flour and other foods. Salt is a binder, a texturizer, and a fermentation control agent. Other useful applications include de-icing highways, oil well drilling, and fertilizing!

We are to be the salt of the earth. As you can see, we have a tough act to follow! But we need to be the salt that the world so desperately needs!

Let's examine ourselves today and see if we're flavoring the world the way we should!

Dear Lord, thank You that You have given us the job of being the salt of the Earth. Help us make a difference. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Don't be a glass. Become a lake

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) 

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

An aging master wanted to teach his apprentice an important factor of living life, and so, one morning, sent him for some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it.

"How does it taste?" The master asked.

"Bitter," spit the apprentice.

The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake, and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake."

As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the master asked, "How does it taste?"

"Fresh," remarked the apprentice.

"Do you taste the salt?" Asked the master.

"No," said the young man.

At this, the master sat beside this serious young man who so reminded him of himself and took his hands, offering, The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things by trusting God. Don't be a glass. Become a lake.

Dear Lord, help us take the pains of life and let You make them small. Help us to rely upon You in all that we do and not let things around us cause us to be bitter. In The Name of Jesus, Amen. 

We truly are! Yummy salty pistachios!

Matthew 5:13 (ESV)

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.

I was asked once what kind of food do I eat when I am frustrated.  Strange question! As I thought about it something salty came to mind. Chips or nuts!

Yes, I like nuts or chips, preferring salt over sugar. I especially love pistachios. Purely heavenly! Now-a-days pistachios can be bought shell free. No more heavy labor to release these delicious tasting pistachios. Yum!

Nowhere in the Bible does it say "You are the sugar of this world!" There is a reason for that. Even though in our society almost everything is laced with refined sugar, sugar isn't our best friend. The same is true with the news that is broadcasted day in and day out: murder, hatred, finances, temptation, indulgence and vengeance . . . I always find myself disappointed when I listen to such news.

How can others savor something that is way better for them than what they are experiencing? This is only possible if we are "salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors!" Notice: salt-seasoning believers!

Many believe we are nuts to promote God-flavors. We truly are! Yummy salty pistachios!

Even amidst sugar-hungering individuals, if we leave a bowl of pistachios in their vicinity, these nuts disappear quite quickly and many ask for more. The same is true with our "salt-seasoning" influence. We may be considered nuts, but still society hungers for people whose interest is in helping others. They urge for more and more of us to do so as well. Once "God-flavors" are tasted, we can't help but ask for more!

If we are among the sugary kind of believers, we will be left wanting. Come on over and taste the "salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors!" You will ask for more and more, as our reality is well beyond the confines of our world!

Dear Lord, help us each be the salt that the world and it’s people need. Give us the opportunities to spread the good news to all those that come into our path today. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Are You a Glass or a Lake?

Romans 8:28 (New International Version)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

An aging Hindu master wanted to teach his apprentice an important factor of living life, and so, one morning, sent him for some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it.

"How does it taste?" the master asked.

"Bitter," spit the apprentice.

The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake, and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake."

As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the master asked, "How does it taste?"

"Fresh," remarked the apprentice.

"Do you taste the salt?" asked the master.

"No," said the young man.

At this, the master sat beside this serious young man who so reminded him of himself and took his hands, offering, "The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things. Don't be a glass. Become a lake."

Dear Lord we pray that as we look at the things in life that we would look at them as the lake instead of the glass. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Casual Paint

There once was a big bill board along a highway advertising Dutch Boy paint. Displayed was this father painting his house. Standing in his shadow was this little boy, maybe four or five, watching with admiration for father. Almost unnoticed, this father was getting casual paint all over his son. This is a perfect example of two ideas used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 where Jesus says "You are the salt of the earth," followed by the statement "You are the light of the world." Whether intentionally or casually we are called to be salt and light in the world. More often than not we have our greatest influence without any awareness of it. Without even trying we get casual paint not only on our children but on all our friends, and sometimes on strangers. God does his greatest work through us when we are truly his servant. Often we never hear about the blessings we bring to others. If we are faithful in serving God it doesn't matter that we hear. There is, of course, the flip side of this story, too. We sometimes get the wrong kind of casual paint on family members and friends, and it is not easily washed off.



We leave casual paint on those around us with the way they relate to people, how we go about our work, and the way we love each other. Without our awareness there are those standing in our shadow, getting casual paint all over them. Lets take the time to think about how we influence those around us.






Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.


- Matthew 5:16 (King James Version)






Dear Lord we pray that we would be the salt and the light that You have called for us to be. We pray that our light would shine brightly for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.