When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
“Not only that – count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.
You can be glad when that happens – give a cheer, even! – for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
“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.
Matthew 5: 1-2, 8-13 The Message
“Let me tell you why you are here.”
How many times has that question crossed your mind?
The answer is shockingly simple.
You are here to be salt-seasoning.
Salt flavors food
Have you ever sat down to eat a meal and only to find yourself reaching for the salt?
Have you ever sat down to eat a meal only to push it away because it is too salty?
Have you ever enjoyed a meal because it was seasoned to perfection?
Sometimes people’s lives need some flavoring, the kind of flavoring that salt adds.
However, too much salt causes them to push away because it overpowers the enjoyment of their life.
But, when it is right, their life can be like a satisfying meal.
Salt preserves things
Before refrigeration kept food, salt was used to make it last longer.
Sometimes your presence in someone’s life is like preserving salt. It helps them last longer. Perhaps circumstances have damaged them so severely that they need the life-preserving benefit of your righteous life surrounding them while they heal. Only then will they be able to decide to follow Jesus.
Salt does not spread itself
Have you ever noticed that salt does not invite itself onto your meal? You must reach for it to enjoy its benefit.
Salt does not jump off the shelf in the kitchen, adding itself to the recipe. The chef must pick it up and put the right amount in.
Religion is like too much salt. It does not know the right amount to add or spews out way more than is requested. Consequently, people push away from Jesus because religion contaminates instead of adding flavor.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead brings you close to God and makes you salty.
Sometimes, people see this in you (maybe they are not sure what they see, but it draws them to you) and ask for your assistance. This is where a relationship over religion is essential.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead enables you to offer the right amount of salt, while religion will attempt to pour the entire container out immediately.
Only then can God use you to flavor a person’s life. He chooses to pick you up (it is God the Holy Spirit-led) and sprinkle you on the person.
It is not up to you to be sprinkled; only be ready—this is where a close personal relationship comes in—when you are picked up to be used.
Remember, God’s focus is eternity and humanity’s place in it. You—the Christ-follower—are vital in spreading the God-flavors on the earth. You are God’s instrument to do that as often or as seldom as he sees the need.
Therefore, rest in him, grow close to him, listen for his voice, and be ready when he reaches out for you.
If you lose your saltiness
How will people taste godliness?
Consider how important you are in the kingdom of God. A lost and dying world needs to taste godliness, and you provide that.
You have lost your usefulness
As a Christ-follower, your usefulness depends on your saltiness, and your saltiness depends on your relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If you allow a close personal relationship to be replaced with religious performance (checking off the boxes of things done), you will lose your usefulness.
You end up on the garbage pile
In another place, Jesus said that your righteousness must differ from that of Pharisees or religious leaders. He was referring to self-righteousness or self-importance. If you dutifully follow the pattern and daily check all the boxes (read the bible, prayed, and talked to someone about the Lord), then you are righteous.
Jesus said otherwise because they dutifully did these things while their hearts lusted for other things.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is about the heart. If your heart is not in it, you are playing a religious game and will find yourself in the garbage pile.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
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