GOD OF ALL THINGS PT 14: SALT, THE ESSENTIAL AND INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF GOD
Matthew 5:13 (NLT)
“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.”
Mark 9:49-50
49 “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
SALT IS EVERYWHERE.
SALT HAD MULTIPLE PURPOSES IN THE ANCIENT WORLD.
Followers of Jesus are like salt:
although we are ordinary and involved in almost everything, we have various roles to play as God’s kingdom comes on earth. Let’s consider each of these five purposes:
1)
We are intended to spread throughout the world and enhance it.
Salt Loses Its Flavor By
2)
Salt Does Not Just Savor, It
3)
Salt is a symbol of purity and its inclusion in sacrifices represents the purity required of offerings made to God.
The term “seasoned with fire” in Mark 9:49 means that everyone will face
Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing (FIRE/TRIAL) you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
4)
There are more scriptural references to salt being used in judgment or destruction than any other purpose.
God scatters salted Christians into the world as a way of judging evil, destroying wickedness and preventing lust, greed, murder or injustice from taking root. We are not meant to be JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE, but our very presence, Christ in us, judges evil in the world.
Philippians 1:27-30
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
5)
Several civilizations used salt as a fertilizer for the soil.
Jesus specifically describes his people as the salt of the earth.
Disciples are fertilizers. We are meant to be in challenging places where life is hard.
When Jesus declared, “You are the salt of the earth,” He was invoking a profound reversal of the curse placed on the ground at Eden following Adam’s sin.
TABLE TIME:
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth,” and He prayed that His followers would be in the world, but not of it. How can we engage with culture in a way that preserves our distinctiveness as “salt” while still making a Godly impact?
As representatives of God, we are “the salt of the earth” and are called to stand against evil. How can we do this while still showing mercy and love to indivduals like Jesus did?
Salt can lose its effectiveness or “flavor” if it becomes contaminated.
What are some potential influences in our lives that could dilute our spiritual effectiveness and how can we safeguard ourselves against becoming dilluted?
Mark 9:49-50 mentions that everyone will be “seasoned with fire and every sacrifice with salt” with fire being trials and temptations, and salt being purification.
How have trials in your life “salted” you — purified and strengthened your faith?
Can you share a time when God used a difficult situation/trial for your growth?
Salt can be used to fertilize and stimulate growth in soil.
How can we be agents of salty spiritual growth and transformation in the lives of others and in our communities?
WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO ME?