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For centuries, salt has been an essential part of human existence. At some point, it was used as currency in certain societies. While no longer used to buy and sell, its importance in cuisine and as a preservative has ensured its relevance till today. In fact, salt can be found in almost every home on the planet. While it is a naturally occurring compound, modern manufacturers often include additives in it. Some are to increase nutritional value, such as iodine for better thyroid health. Other chemicals such as anticaking agents are used to keep the product from clumping.
Given its significance to people everywhere, it is no surprise that salt makes its way into the Bible. It was used by Elisha to perform the miracle that cured the waters of Jericho (2 Kings 20). The term "covenant of salt" appears a few times, suggesting that salt represents loyalty and trust in an agreement between parties (Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5). Also, in Colossians 4:6, Apostle Paul advises that a Christian's conversations should be "seasoned with salt" meaning that they should be filled with wisdom and should not be unwholesome (Ephesians 4:29).
Even Jesus spoke of salt. He said in Luke 14:34 - Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? Here, He was speaking to His disciples, teaching them to be careful to not lose what makes them different from others. They had been filled and nurtured by their interactions with Jesus. They'd learned spiritual things that the average person didn't understand. Things that could and did transform not only their lives but the lives of others. These included healings, a deep understanding of the scripture, and other miracles.
How does this warning relate to us Christians today? What could cause us to lose our 'saltiness' and thereby lose our value?
As noted above, additives are included in modern salt. However, the wrong additives could cause salt to lose its flavor and become useless to the consumer. Similarly, believers must be careful to not be contaminated by the wrong 'additives'. There are things in this world intent on erasing everything Jesus has placed in us. These could be the content we watch, the posts we read, and the songs we listen to. A lot of the content out there is designed to make Christians forget the need for the Holy Spirit, the gifts of faith and patience, enticing them to resort to 'quicker' occult practices. Much of the ideas we interact with seek to convince us not to love others or know the word of God as Jesus instructed. Such things are depicted as unimportant and are in fact, despised.
And if we, as self-professing believers, aren't cautious, we'll allow these evil 'additives' into our lives. They will have us thinking attending church is irrelevant or that fellowship with others in the faith doesn't matter. We'll forget that we are called to give to the needy and will only focus on ourselves instead. Contamination will have a believer willfully disobeying God's instructions and living a life of sin, instead of walking each day, on the path of righteousness.
Then, the very things that made us spiritually salty become adulterated and lose their savor. And the many things we could have done for God's kingdom on earth all of a sudden never take place. In that case, satan wins, keeping us from being fully effective for the Lord and a problem for hell.
May the Lord help us to remain spiritually salty for Him. May we live as the salt of the earth - an instrument that brings flavor, preserves, and retains its flavor for the purposes of God Almighty, IJMN, Amen.
See you at Noon EST for fellowship.
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