"Pass the Salt, Please"

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

The Lord Jesus has just finished describing the supernatural attributes of kingdom citizens. We call them the "Beattitudes." He has given us the marks of a Christian who is submitted to the will and word of God. Markings like poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for being all these things. I say the marks are supernatural because they cannot be produced naturally. These marks are the outflow of a life fully submitted to God. This is not another "list" for us to check off as we go about our day. This is the Holy Spirit shining through us if we'll let Him.

Our world today is just like their world then. The Bible teaches us that there is nothing new under the sun, and that which has been, will be again. The world is a dead and decaying place because of sin running rampant through it. If it is left to itself it will destroy itself. Our graveyards, hospitals, and prisons are full of the proof that is needed to back this teaching. You don't have to be a Christian or a law abiding citizen with some degree of moral absolutes to see the degradation going on in the world today. There isn't even honor among thieves these days.

The rich are oppressing the poor, and those in the high places are robbing those who are in the lows. Even the governments are running loose with no thought of what their level of corruption is doing to their own nations. For years and years there has been a man of guile signing false documents promising great returns for money being invested (yeah right) by his company. I wonder if as he signed his name to those returns, was he thinking, "I love my last name." His name is Bernie Madeoff and he had just "made-off" with our money again. Billions of dollars are stolen each year all over the world by many others just like him. Is there no shame anymore among people.

Well, as I said before, there is nothing new under the sun and the world is just doing what a world full of sin and without Christ does. So Jesus here in this 13th verse of Matthew's gospel has said to all of us, "you are the salt of the earth..." Go and be the agent of change in the world around you. Go and be the preserving influence of hope, righteousness, and good that will hold back the decay of the world. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven," was His next command soon to follow. And don't worry because I have sent you the Comforter to help you. We cannot do this without the power of the Holy Spirit. God designed it this way.

Remember this week as you go, that you are living in that neighborhood for a reason. You are working at that workplace for a reason. You are involved in that social organization for a reason. You are taking that class for a reason if you are a Christ follower. The reason is to be the salt of the earth. So, pass the salt, please!