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Oliver Wendell Holmes said "the
biggest tragedy is not the great waste of natural resources, but the waste
of human resources." There are multitude of organizations that spent
great deal of time, energy, and finances to preserve our world. But
what of the millions of lost people in the world who have never heard of
the saving power of Jesus? What of the millions of Christians
who do not know the full potential God has planned for them?
Did you know that the salt mines back east have been mined for years, yet
it seems that in spite of all the salt that we use on a daily basis, and
the tons of salt that is taken from the mines, they have still used up
only a very minute percent of this mineral? And that is
certainly not the only place in the world where they mine salt!
Apparently there is a great resource of salt to be found on our planet.
One would almost get the idea that the world's supply of salt is endless!
For all outward appearances, salt
doesn't have much appeal. In fact, in it's "raw" state, it's down
right unattractive. Yet without this small grain, life on earth
would be impossible. Even the human body contains salt. helping our
nervous and digestive systems.
Salt makes life possible. Jesus
called us the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). Knowing that
He never speaks without purpose, this becomes a powerful statement!
Jesus knew the significant of salt. It was
used to season food, and actually mixed with the fodder of cattle to
satisfy the animal's need for salt and to make it a tastier feed.
To eat salt with someone was to partake of
his hospitality, to receive subsistence from him; thereby putting the
guest
into a position to look after his host's interests. (Ezra 4:14
Revised Standard: "Now because we share the salt of the palace and it
is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor.
American Standard reads: "Now because we are in the
service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s
dishonor...")
Salt was symbolic of a covenant, because
salt preserved and prevented decay. The idea was that the covenant
would be eternal and the salt was a sign of the everlasting effect of the
agreements reached.
(I just read where workers in a salt
mine in Salzburg, Austria unearthed the bodies of two miners, probably
buried there since the 1500's! The skin was still intact. The
bodies had been perfectly preserved because of the salt!)
The Hebrew root word for pure
referred to salt, as well as gold! Something that was refined,
purified, without flaw, perfect, clean!
Salt was used as a medicine.
The list goes on...but I think we can
begin to understand the impact of what Jesus was saying when He said we
are the salt of the earth!
As believers, we have eaten of
His salt. We have partaken of His hospitality, received subsistence
from Him; thereby putting us into the position to look after His
interests!
As salt, we are symbolic of covenant,
preserving and helping prevent decay in His Body.
Jesus sees us as refined, purified,
without flaw, perfect, clean! (Somebody should be shouting at this
point!)
We bring "flavor" to those around us and
make the Word "tastier."
Jesus says we are also medicine to a
hurt and dying world. Without His salt in the world (us), Life would
be impossible! That's pretty heady stuff!
However, I want to give you a word of
warning. Jesus did say we are the salt of the earth. He also
went on and said that "if the salt becomes tasteless, how can it be
made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be
thrown out and be trampled under foot by man."
Make a commitment today to keep your
flavor. Stay in the Word. If the cares of the world and the
"busy-ness" of being a wife, mother, careers, etc. have crept in and
stolen from your time with God, decide today to take that time back.
Don't allow the enemy to keep you from the much needed fellowship with
your Father.
Glory in Him, partake of His
salt, then go out and "season" the world!
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