Ever since I got off the plane (last post), I've been digging deeper into Matthew.
Matthew 5:13a, 14a "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world."
I just love how Jesus talks and compares so many things to everyday life. I think it's His way of helping us to think of Him often.
I really like salt. It's my downfall. As a matter of fact, Shawn is constantly reminding me not to put salt on the kids food :) Shawn's probably thinking, "If she keeps eating like this, she's going to turn into salt." Too bad Shawn, I already turned into salt (Read the post and you'll know what I mean.)
So I began to study SALT. What else did God say about it?..
I truly didn't expect to find so much!
2 Chronicles 13:5 "Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?"
COVENANT OF SALT???? I don't think I've ever heard of this before. I've read it before, but didn't catch it.
What is God saying?
I need to dig deeper, but here's a little of what I've found. The Salt Covenant is to "David for ever". Salt is also the only thing that every sacrifice had in common “...Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to ALL your offerings.” Leviticus 2:13. Salt is used as a symbol. (I'm not done learning on this one) But I do know that Jesus was the final sacrifice.
What purpose does salt have?
I need to dig deeper, but here's a little of what I've found. The Salt Covenant is to "David for ever". Salt is also the only thing that every sacrifice had in common “...Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to ALL your offerings.” Leviticus 2:13. Salt is used as a symbol. (I'm not done learning on this one) But I do know that Jesus was the final sacrifice.To season
To preserve
To cure
When Jesus said "You are the salt of the earth:" What did He mean?
The Bible teaches us that we, as Christians, are to be salt in the world. We are to be a seasoning, a preservative and a cure in a world full of sin and hatred toward God and the things of God.
Some things to ponder...
- You can't eat salt by itself.
Try putting a spoonful in your mouth. You couldn't swallow it. You have to put it on something in order for it to be useful. You have to use the right amount. Too little and it has no effect; too much and it spoils the taste. It must be used carefully and in moderation. Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." We are told to use some seasoning with our speech.
- Salt makes things taste better.
Job 6:6a "Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt?"
We eat it in everyday foods :)- Salt is used for curing.
You use it on cucumbers to take the water out when you make pickles. It dries out the cucumbers and changes them so they can be made into something else.
The Word of God can dry up sin in a person's life. The Holy Spirit can take out what is unnecessary and unprofitable in someone's life and change that person. He takes bitterness and turns it into joy, selfishness into servant hood, depression into happiness.
- Salt is used to melt ice.
It works even in temperatures below freezing.
The Word of God can melt icy cold hearts like nothing else can.God can use our salt to melt the seemingly impossible people.
- Your body fluids (sweat and tears) taste salty.
Your salt comes from Jesus Christ. I wonder if I can even say, "Your salt is Jesus Christ." He preserves us. He changes us. He cures us. He "melts" our cold hearts. He is pure.
Some people you know will be offended when your "sweat" or "tears" fall on them. To them it will be like salt that is put on an open wound. It will sting. Hebrews 4:12 says that "... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword..."
- Salt is white and pure.
I've heard that in order to make salt tasteless, it has to have some impurities in it. Pure salt will never loose its saltiness.
When we let sin or impurities in our lives, we become less effective and sometimes ineffective for Christ.
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Jesus told his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth…” Are we? or maybe I should leave you out and ask, am I this vital commodity that causes life instead of death? Health instead of illness? Spiritual wealth instead of poverty? Do I represent purity in a corrupt world? Do I create spiritual thirst? Next time you say “Please pass the salt”… remember that you too are to be the salt of the earth!
.....................................and there is so much more......................................
