Salt is a funny thing. It preserves in large quantities but only a small bit seasons an entire meal. A mouth full of seawater is much worse than lake water, yet warm salt water makes the perfect rinse for a sore throat. Consuming too much salt can quickly create a health crisis but so can having too little. There’s a balance that must be maintained in the body for health and wellbeing. So it is in the life of faith, but there is always a danger, as with modern recipes which simply say “season to taste,” of allowing the senseless tastebuds of the world or our own to determine to right mix. Think instead of the bread baker who mixes in the exact ratios of flour and raising agents for the perfect loaf and go to the Bible, God’s instruction manual, as the absolute standard.
““Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread.
Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? Don’t you understand even yet?
Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?
Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”
Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:6-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.16.6-12.NLT
“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Colossians 4:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/col.4.6.NASB1995
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth.
But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?
Can you make it salty again?
It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
Matthew 5:13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.13.NLT
Jesus had just given in the beatitudes a list of blessings which bring happiness to the believer that seems entirely wrong. Things like spiritual poverty and waiting for the Lord’s timing, all the while enduring persecution and rejection because of our love for Christ- these do not sound like joyful things to our ears. But Jesus says otherwise.
“How blessed you are when people insult and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for me!
So leap for joy—since your heavenly reward is great.
For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you.
“Your lives are like salt among the people.
But if you, like salt, become bland, how can your ‘saltiness’ be restored?
Flavorless salt is good for nothing and will be thrown out and trampled on by others.”
Matthew 5:11-13 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.5.11-13.TPT
Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)
A wedding feast is being prepared, the wedding feast of the Lamb, and in the world we are like Him. When we are walking with Him, abiding in Him and His Word in us, we are appetizers. Fanny Jane Crosby penned in the lyrics to Blessed Assurance a beautiful picture of the life of Christ in us. Perfect submission is twice cited as both rest and delight in the Savior of our souls. Only as we find our lives hidden with Christ in God can we offer the world a taste of what God has promised to all those who are called according to His purpose.
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.”
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Colossians 4:2-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.4.2-6.NLT
“Be faithful to pray as intercessors who are fully alert and giving thanks to God.
Walk in the wisdom of God as you live before the unbelievers, and make it your duty to make him known.
Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity.
For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith.”
Colossians 4:2, 5-6 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/col.4.2-6.TPT
“Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear.
Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.”
1 Peter 3:13-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.3.13-16.NLT
Pray continually. Keep the conversation with your Heavenly Father going all day long, interjecting amen because you want His will more than your own, not because the conversation is over.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7 NLT
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