You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Matthew 5:13

Devotion

Salt.

Depending on the current state of your health and wellness, salt is a mineral that you either enjoy or avoid at all costs. As with just about everything in our lives, a little salt can go a long way, but too much salt can be detrimental.

When Jesus told his listeners they were the salt of the earth, they had a very clear understanding about the purpose of salt. Every man and woman in the assembled crowd knew how useful salt could be in daily life when administered properly. Over time, the number of ways salt is routinely used has diminished. For most of us, salt sits in a shaker on the table or in the cabinet until we’re ready to use it on food.

Here are a few of the ways that salt was utilized during Bible times.

Purity

Romans considered salt the purest of all things because it came from the sun and the sea. When Jesus used this analogy, he was telling his disciples that they must be examples of purity. Our society continues to progressively lower the standards of truth, honesty, conduct, and morality. We must continually strive for the absolute highest standard of purity in all of these areas. 

Healing

The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all used salt for healing purposes. Salt was, and still is, used to clean wounds, prevent infection, and disinfect. As far back as 460 BC, saltwater steam was used as a remedy for bronchitis and asthma. As followers of Jesus, we are called to “the ministry of reconciliation” and should look for ways to heal broken relationships.

Preservative

Salt was commonly used to keep products like meat from going bad. We can be the same in our circles of influence. As Christians, wherever we go, we should act as salt and prevent corruption of the mind and spirit and actually make it easier for others to be good. Be careful not to be judgemental here. We cannot expect Christian behavior from non-Christians.

Oath Keeping

In both Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5, salt covenants were made. Because salt was considered pure and uncorrupted, it was a sacred element in forging treaties, political alliances, personal relationships, and making promises. When Jesus teaches that we should let our yes be yes and our no be no, this is the concept his audience would understand. As followers of Jesus, our integrity should be beyond reproach; when we give our word, it should mean something.

Flavor

We have all tasted bland and unseasoned food. It’s nasty. Just like salt brings out the flavor of food, we are to bring out the flavor of life. Jesus even said that he came to give us a full life. Unfortunately, Christians are too often defined by what they “don’t” do, rather than the joy that should be evident and obvious in every part of our lives. It seems too many of us have lost the radiance of our Christian faith. Our world is universally depressed—we must season it with the joy that is only found in the abundant life Jesus offers. If joy is not a characteristic of our lives as Christ-followers, why should we expect anyone to join us?

And here’s my personal favorite …

Creates thirst

Why do bars and restaurants offer chips, peanuts, and pretzels to their guests? To create thirst. By the way we live, we should be creating a thirst in others for what we have. But do we really live that way? 

When others look at how we work, at how we live at home … do they really want what we have? We worship a God who loved us enough that his son set aside his rights and privileges as God to became flesh and bone, just to die for our sins. That same Jesus who shed his blood to pay the penalty for our sins defeated death and the grave. We are loved by a God who promises that no matter what we are going through, he will always be with us. We follow and serve a God who assures us that the hard times, trials, and suffering we endure in this life are but a vapor and cannot compare to the eternal weight of glory that we will see in Heaven.

But here’s the thing. Salt doesn’t work when it stays in the shaker. In every use for salt, it only works when it comes into contact with something else. When it rubs up against something else.

Where is the salt of your life rubbing up against other people? Are you seasoning your daily interactions with purity, healing, and joy? Are the people you work with, live with, and recreate with developing a thirst for the peace, joy, and love you have found in Jesus?

Or are you still in the shaker?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for calling us the salt of the earth and for filling our lives with your purity, healing, and joy. Forgive us for the times we stay comfortable inside the shaker, keeping your goodness to ourselves.

Help us to get out and mix into the world around us. Let our integrity be beyond reproach, our words bring healing, and our lives radiate a joy that makes others thirsty for you. Use us daily to preserve what is good and to season our workplaces, homes, and communities with your love.

Don't let us lose our flavor, Lord. Rub our lives up against those who need you most, so they might taste and see that you are good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Michael Milligan
Pastor, Missions & Outreach - OKC

Resources:

Read The Art of Missional Spirituality by Jeremy Chambers and Monica Paredes Chambers.

Read Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life. by Rebecca Manley Pippert.

See how you can serve through Missions! https://crossings.church/missions.

Explore other devotions like this one any time at crossings.church/devotions .