Have Salt in Yourselves

“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another” (Mark 9:50).

For some people, salt is essential to make their food taste right, while for others it creates issues with their blood pressure. Obviously, Jesus is not discussing the health aspects of salt, but its quality as salt that should be seen in us. Salt is only good if it possesses that quality that makes it salty, whether for seasoning, or preserving, or whatever.  If it loses the very quality of being salt, it is worthless.

In the first century, there was no refining process for salt as today. Much of it contained not only sodium chloride but also other elements and impurities. If the sodium chloride washed out, the residue of white powder still looked like salt, and was still called salt, but it neither tasted nor acted like salt, as it had lost its quality of saltiness.

How desperately our world needs to see salt in us, the preserving, saving power of the gospel in us, and the seasoning aspect the gospel provides as well. So many have adopted chaos as a way of life, which only offers confusion and destruction. They find nothing that offers meaning and purpose to their lives. Within denominational structures, there is more chaos, as once saved, no matter how heinous or reprehensible one’s conduct may be, salvation is guaranteed. It allows perversion and a continuance in sin. New Testament Christianity offers not only the truth of salvation, but a way of life that is sanctified, a growing reflection of Christ instead of sin (Col. 1:27).

So, as Christians, we are to provide an example to those in the darkness of sin. There is a quality, or distinctiveness, to our lives in Christ. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (12:2). Only by living in Christ and Christ living in us can we possess that quality and have the influence we need to be the salt of the earth. To wear the name “Christian,” but not live as a Christian, is like salt that is no longer salty. Our lives only have meaning in Him when we live for Him, and in Him have peace.

Let us be Christians in word and deed. Let us exhibit those qualities in our lives that show us to be His followers. May we be an influence for good to those around us, that enables to really see the difference Christ can make in life. These virtues and blessings can be ours, if we dedicate ourselves to being like Christ, possessing those qualities that identify us as His. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 14:34-35).

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Robert