Has anyone ever called you salty?
If they did, would you take it as a complement or would you be offended?
Jesus called us the salt of the earth in His sermon on the Mount.
Thanks to the Dead Sea, there was an ample supply of salt in the region.
It was used in households to both preserve and season foods.
Salt was also commonly used in the temple sacrifices, and all covenants cut in salt were considered irrevocable.
If you were wounded, yes, they would pour salt in the wound. Salt has great antibacterial properties, plus it dries out the wound helping to heal more quickly. Try it sometimes….
But, why would Jesus liken His followers to salt?
Well, His life is in us and should flow through us to those around us.
So, our lives should point people to the only real life preserver: Jesus.
He adds flavor to all aspects of life.
Jesus was the ultimate temple sacrifice.
The covenant His cut with His blood is the new covenant of grace which is irrevocable.
He is the One who heals all of our wounds…yes there sometimes is pain in the healing process. He draws out the toxins of our wounds which speeds the healing of our souls.
Because Jesus is salty, we are salty. Our lives should point others to Jesus so that they too can experience His saltiness.
In Colossians 4:6, Paul equates grace with salt:
“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
The salt within us is His grace.
When we treat others with grace it’s like we are dumping His life-preserving salt on them.
As we allow Jesus to speak through us, His gracious Words will draw them to Him in salvation and in healing.
So, beloved, you are the salt of the earth.
We need to learn to let Jesus speak His words of grace through us to everyone we encounter.
It’s then that we are being who we truly are: the salt of the earth.
Blessings!
Robyn Henning