Salt of the Earth
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
-Matthew 5:13-16 (MSG)
Let us never forget why we are here, and what our purpose is here on the earth.
We are the salt of the earth.
Without God, this earth is bland, unappetizing, there’s something crucial missing in life’s recipe. Without God, life has been drained of it’s color. It still works, but it’s not as vibrant and rich as what has been intended.
When you eat something with seasoning, you don’t think “oh wow, there’s 1/4 teaspoon of basil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of oregano.” You don’t have to go in and define what it is that causes the flavor to come out of the dish, you just know something tastes great. That’s what we are in this world. We don’t have to shout our ingredients, we just have to be the flavoring. True flavoring, true seasoning, true SALT, speaks for itself and causes greatness to come out of the ordinary and bland.
Maybe you’ve been in a rough season and you’re drained of your flavor. Maybe you’re just unsure of how to be the salt, or you feel it’s too bold for you. But small acts and interactions make the biggest difference. Just a pinch of salt is enough to transform a whole recipe.
So go and be kind.
Show someone love.
Bring encouragement to someone.
Spend time with someone who needs it.
Just be “all-in,” and no distractions with someone. Pay attention.
You never know the impact that you can make by doing what seems like the most basic and insignificant act.
It doesn’t take much.
I want to be known for loving people, and loving people well. Salt and seasoning can be bold, but it shouldn’t be offensive. I’ve been seeing so much debate and loud opinion on social media lately and it’s been disheartening.
Friends, my encouragement to you is to be true to yourself but still let Jesus be Jesus in you. Jesus was loving to the unlovable and gracious to those who didn’t deserve it. Let’s remember to love one another, just as 1 Corinthians tells us.
If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (HCSB)
Praying you find ways to let your love of Jesus shine bright in this world!
