Did you ever see pictures of all the salt deposits in the Dead Sea which is located in Israel? When we visited there, we experienced floating on top of the water because of the high salt concentration. It was one of my many highlights in Israel, recalling the words of Jesus calling us salt.
Believers ARE the salt of the earth. Let’s look at the scripture in full, “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.” Matthew 5: 13
So, what is this “good” that Jesus was referring to? Good is honest, sound, valid, cheerful, honorable, worthy, conscientious, moral, genuine, humane, kind, fair, useful, skillful, adequate, and friendly.
Good is that which it was created and ordained to be.
Being “good for nothing” is not a positive phrase that indicates a good feeling.
What is the term “losing our saltiness” all about? If we lose our saltiness, (our purpose), our calling, what good can we do in the world? We will no longer bring blessings or benefit to others or ourselves. We must be vigilant to be the salt.
We must be the salt of the earth.
Jesus was saying earlier in that chapter that Christians are to be poor in spirit, mournful for sin, meek, thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and disposed (willing and inclined) to make peace. Nevertheless, He is never to be isolated from the world. He came to affect, influence, and save the world.
In saying this, Jesus was indicating, “Those who are my disciples should affect the world positively by the way they live.”
For effectiveness, Christians must retain his/her Christlikeness as salt must retain its saltiness.
If we become like non-Christians and become contaminated by the impurities of the world, we lose our influence. This influence of Christians, in and on society, depends on us being distinct, not identical. If we become indistinguishable from non-Christians, we are useless. We might as well be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. That’s a pretty harsh statement by Jesus, but He wants us to be flavored, having very distinctive qualities.
Jesus teaches us that we are to influence our society.
To be good salt, it has to come in contact with it to bring flavor or influence. We must come in contact with the world to bring influence, to be effective with mankind, just like salt has to come in contact with food to season it.
A good chef will tell us that salt needs to be rubbed in and on the meat to bring out the best flavor possible.
Salty living, which is good, will bring blessings.
In the beautiful Hebrew language of Jesus, we learned there are words, numbers, and even symbols that make up this language. That’s why it’s called Alphanumerical. If we look at the word salt in Hebrew (melach) its exact numerical value is the number 78. The number 78 (lerape) means to cure/to heal.
So, what does this all mean?
To be the salt of the earth means we are agents of healing. (Selah)
So, as we close, let’s remember we are the salt of the earth. That is why we were created and are of great value to the Lord Jesus. His kindness becomes the salt of the earth; and in His way, we embody this kindness of our Lord to show the world who He is–a good, kind, compassionate, merciful, and loving father.
Go Salt Your World!
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