Trying something a little different today, Father. Later nights are much more difficult, so here I am. Speak, for Your servant is listening.
Luke 14:28-35 (<<click here to read the passage)
As I have gotten older, I realize that many people have an obsession with salt. I rarely salt anything. The only thing that comes to mind is buttered corn-on-the-cob (on which I also enjoy pepper, thanks to my father-in-law!) But then, of course, it is not normally prepared with salt ahead of time.
Karen uses salt when she cooks but not in great abundance. It’s interesting to see how many people salt their food without even tasting it. I read somewhere that J.C. Penny would eat with potential employees and if they did that, he wouldn’t hire them. I guess he didn’t want people who would just assume things were a certain way!
The sodium and chloride ions found in salt help us maintain our health. It’s essential for nerve and muscle function and is involved in the regulation of fluids in the body. So, it is important to us physically and it has been used to preserve meat and flavor foods for centuries.
Many don’t like to think about it this way but being in a relationship with Jesus is an all or nothing deal. Jesus says in verse 33, So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
And as He has given us examples, we must enter into that relationship knowing what’s ahead. If we are going to do this, it has to be done right – again it’s all or nothing.
So, if we choose to accept our responsibilities, we most certainly have a purpose. As it says at the beginning of Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.”
We, as followers of Jesus, are to impact the health and “flavoring” of the world. It’s a pretty bitter and otherwise bland place to live…but we can change that! Where the problem occurs is when we water down our message of hope and salvation. A small amount of salt in the water makes the water salty but a bunch of water with a pinch of salt doesn’t accomplish a whole lot!
If we lose our saltiness, we are good for nothing!
Lord Jesus, help us to keep our saltiness – for even on a chemical level, salt can’t be broken down! It is only when we water it down, do we lose our effectiveness. Enable us to give it our all, enable us to count the cost, and to not hold back! Amen!
Sept 10th, 2020, Thurs, 12:35 pm
