Staying Salty
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land,
nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to
hear, let him hear.”
Luke 14:34–35
In Bible times, salt was a valuable substance. In the Roman Empire, it was common for workers and soldiers to be paid in salt. In fact our word salary comes from the Latin word for “salt money.” The description of a lazy worker as “Not worth his salt” traces back to that custom. Salt was valuable not only because it was rare, but because it was so important to food preservation and flavoring. Salt was sometimes collected in pools by bodies of water like the Mediterranean Sea, and more often was mined from the ground. But when salt was exposed to the elements, it would lose its sharp nature, and become simply a bland chemical that no longer produced any positive effect.
The world has a way of wearing away the “saltiness” of Christians. Over time we can become more like the world as the edges of our distinctiveness get ground down and we cease to stand apart as God calls us to do. God’s intention is for His children to be distinct and different from the world in their love, their life, their language, and their labor. Titus 2:14 reminds us that Christ “…gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
In our day, there is enormous pressure to stop clearly and plainly declaring the Word of God so as to avoid offending anyone’s sensibilities or hurting their feelings. But the Divine law has not changed. Sin is still sinful and God still hates it. Righteousness is still right and God still loves it. And our job is to be salt and light to the world.
Luke 14:34–35
In Bible times, salt was a valuable substance. In the Roman Empire, it was common for workers and soldiers to be paid in salt. In fact our word salary comes from the Latin word for “salt money.” The description of a lazy worker as “Not worth his salt” traces back to that custom. Salt was valuable not only because it was rare, but because it was so important to food preservation and flavoring. Salt was sometimes collected in pools by bodies of water like the Mediterranean Sea, and more often was mined from the ground. But when salt was exposed to the elements, it would lose its sharp nature, and become simply a bland chemical that no longer produced any positive effect.
The world has a way of wearing away the “saltiness” of Christians. Over time we can become more like the world as the edges of our distinctiveness get ground down and we cease to stand apart as God calls us to do. God’s intention is for His children to be distinct and different from the world in their love, their life, their language, and their labor. Titus 2:14 reminds us that Christ “…gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
In our day, there is enormous pressure to stop clearly and plainly declaring the Word of God so as to avoid offending anyone’s sensibilities or hurting their feelings. But the Divine law has not changed. Sin is still sinful and God still hates it. Righteousness is still right and God still loves it. And our job is to be salt and light to the world.
Today’s Growth Principle:
The more closely we cling to God and His Word, the more distinct from the world we will be.
God Will Help You
by Joyce Meyer - posted June 20, 2016Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. . . . Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you. Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you," says the Lord and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
—Isaiah 41:10-14 NKJV
When we start reading today's Scripture, we might think, Wow. God must be talking to people who really have their act together, but the good news is that He is talking to ordinary people just like you and me. He helps us because He is good, not because we are. Fear comes against all of us, and God wants us to know that we don't have to let the feelings of fear defeat us. We can keep moving forward in the presence of fear because He is with us.
If someone has hurt you or treated you unjustly, remember that God promises to deal with them and make them as nothing at all... nonexistent!! When we read that God will strengthen us that means He will enable us to do whatever we need to do today and everyday. God is with you, and that makes you equal to anything that comes against you. Because God is with you, that makes you greater than any problem you have.
Fear is not God's will for you. He wants you to be bold, courageous, and confident, and you can be if you remind yourself often that you are not alone. God is with you!!
Love Yourself Today: Remember that God is with you at all times and you can do whatever you need to do.
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