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Are You Salty? Or Just Tasteless?

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 underfoot.

Matthew 5:13


I've been camped out on this verse for days. Jesus compared Christians to salt. So what does that really mean? After all, isn't too much salt a bad thing?

So I began to study the characteristics of salt. I found the comparison fascinating.

1. Salt was extremely valuable and even used as salary. Too much salt would have never been a problem in Biblical times.

Application: Christians serve as valuable purpose in society.

2. Salt preserves. For example, salt can keep bacteria from growing to prevent meat from spoiling. I read one source indicating salt needed to be at 20 percent concentration to act as a preservative.

Application: We are meant to preserve the culture from moral decay.

3. Salt cleans. Salt is a great natural cleaner. You can find all kinds of tips here.

Application: Christians can clean up a dirty culture.

4. Salt remains salty -- except when contaminated. According to chemists, the only way salt actually loses its flavor is when it's mixed with too many other elements.

Application: We lose our effectiveness when we compromise and begin to look like the world.

4. Salt is powerful. For instance, only a very small quantity is required in baking to achieve results.

Application: Christians don't have to outnumber everyone to be effective. But we must stay pure.

Are there areas in your life where you are letting the culture redefine God's standards?

Lord, open our eyes to your standards. Help us strive to be holy, so we can make a difference in the decaying culture all around us.

Stacy


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