SALT

Mark 9:50 "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another."

Matthew 5:13 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

Salt can be used in several different ways. I’ve been thinking about all the properties of salt and can see spiritual implications in every one of them. And, no matter what the property is, if the salt has lost it’s “saltness”, chemically it will not work in that property.

Mark tells us to “have salt in yourselves”. …hmmmmmm. What is salt? It could be several things. If we are to have salt within us, let’s see what the Word says about being filled.

Ephesians 3:19 "And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

Colossians 1:9 "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;"

2 Timothy 1:4 "Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy."

So “saltness” must be, in short, being filled with the fullness of God by the power of the Holy Spirit by studying, praying, praising, so our joy might be full. In His presence is fullness of joy, and His joy is my strength, so I must have to be in His presence and fellowship with Him and His Word to keep full. Open your spirit to see where this applies in your life and the lives of others around you.

Salt gives flavor.
Did you know that salting something helps bring out its natural flavor? That’s why even a little salt is better than no salt.
Did you know that too much salt ruins it and the true flavor can’t be tasted?

If you keep “salt”’ in yourself, your natural flavor will come out. The person God has called you to be will be available to Him and to others. If you get too salty…no one can tolerate you. You have to communicate in this world with real people who are on this earth. Don’t go overboard.

If you keep “salting” others, their natural flavor will come out. You will see them through the eyes of Jesus and be able to minister appropriately. If you salt them too much, they will be overwhelmed. Other properties of salt will take over.

Salt preserves.
Did you know that a salty brine helps preserve things for years? That’s why something good tasting can be expected even after years of preservation.

If you keep “salt” in yourself, you will have the strength to run the race, strength to endure. After all, this is an endurance race. We must be preserved to be able to fulfill His purposes for us.

If we “salt” others, we will help preserve them as well. Encouraging each other daily in the Lord is a form of preserving each other…salting each other.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:14 "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."

Salt causes thirst.
Did you know that salt, even in small amounts can cause thirst? Everybody is different. Everybody needs a different amount of salt to become thirsty. Only God knows the level of salt intake a person needs to cause thirst. So you may have to keep adding salt. Only those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Let’s help them by salting them.

Salt stops odor.
Did you know if you are cooking raw meat and that less than favorable raw meat mixed with blood smell permeates the air…salt it…the smell will go away? Interesting, huh?

Jesus tells us to love the unlovely. Luke 6:32 says “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” Matthew 5:44 says: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”. Many of us would rather not, but how then are we different from the world? Salt them!

Salt burns.
Did you know that salt on delicate skin or on an abrasion or cut can cause burning?
Did you know the burning doesn’t last long? There are also healing properties in the salt. Again, everybody can tolerate different levels of salt. Be led by the Holy Spirit with your salt shaker.

Salt is abrasive.
Did you know that salt can be used as a cleansing agent because of its abrasive property?

Clean-up in aisle 6 !!! Sometimes we are called upon to clean up a mess. There are different assignments for everyone. And, some have to clean up more messes than others.
Galatians 6:1 tells us: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”. Remember that “apart from me, you can do nothing”. He will give you the wisdom to operate in this manner.

Salt causes buoyancy.
Did you know that you can’t sink in really salty water? You float.

As long as you keep enough salt in, on, around and through you, you will not sink! You, however, are the one who has to intake enough salt, envelope yourself in the saltiness of others, and spread the salt around. When you feel like you are sinking in the overwhelming circumstances of life, check the salt level.

Salt melts ice.
Did you know that when you throw salt on ice, it melts?
Did you also know that there is a temperature that is too cold for salt to melt ice?

There are different ways to use salt. Sometimes melting ice is the only way to someone’s heart. God knows who these people are. He also knows whose heart is too cold. The salt may need to be applied in a different manner. Listen to Him.

In Summary:

God knows each individual. He knows our hearts. He knows our circumstances. He loves us so much. Only He knows how the salt will be used in our lives. Only He knows what “saltness” we will need. Our purpose is to be filled with salt and saltness. Let Him use your salt.