Today, we are literally five days away from a New Year, a new season, and new opportunities. Without question many view this past year as one filled with struggle, sadness, and maybe even a sense of unfulfilled expectations. However, you already claimed 2011 as your year and your moment. You’ve seen change, tasted change, and decided you like what you’ve seen and tasted. How do you plan to change your world, the one in which you live? Allow me to cut across the yard and tell you how – GET SALTY!
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Matthew 5:13
Jesus referred to His followers, as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt is a necessary mineral, without it we die. Too much of it and we also die.
Salt was the primary means of preservation of food up until modern times. It was also used for purification and healing because no germs can live in it. In ancient times salt was seen as a necessity of life. Because of its seasoning and preservative qualities was one of the most highly prized minerals. Additionally, in many societies it was so highly valued that it was used for money. Moreover, the word salary is derived from the Latin word Salarium which refers to the payments made to a Roman soldier with salt (Source: Logos Bible Software). Also, whenever a city was defeated the custom was to throw salt throughout the city. This meant that the city had been separated from its past.
Matthew 5:13 teaches us that we are the salt, so what did Jesus mean when he said “You are the salt of the earth?”
SALT PRESERVES
In the days before iceboxes and modern refrigeration, salt was the main means of preserving perishable food. Food would be heavily salted to keep food from spoiling. Salt was important for survival, because it was the only way they had to preserve meat. We have refrigeration, so salt became very important in their ability to preserve their food. The salt was rubbed into the meat before it was stored. Salt was to arrest or at to hinder the process of decay. Christians are given the task of arresting the decay of our world.
CHRISTIANS PROVIDE SPIRITUAL ANTIBIOTICS TO FIGHT MORAL INFECTION
We are called to be salty.
We are called to be cleansing.
We are called to be pure.
We are called to be peaceful.
We are called to be have zeal.
We are called to do all these things in the earth.
If we don’t, we are not serving our purpose here! It’s so easy to forget we’re and just blend in with the world, but Jesus says that we are blessed when we are persecuted and downtrodden for claiming His name. Too often we silently cast off Jesus’ name in the moment so that we can avoid seasoning the conversation or showing others the truth.
