2025-02-21A
SALT HAS DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS
A. SALT GIVES TASTE.
Someone who has salted his meat once, will never eat unsalted meat again. Some salted dishes are especially delightful; like shepherd pie. Having tasted a bite off my plate, a person may right away take up a plate and get himself a full helping of his own.
Likewise, showing kindness to people, attracts them to the Lord. By allowing a flustered looking person to get ahead of you into the queue for the till, may open the door for a friendly conversation. Repeatedly showing kindness to the same person, may convince even the most disinterested individual that the Lord you serve is actually generous and worthwhile to know. Once a person has thoroughly tasted the sweetness of God by the working of the Holy Spirit within his inner being, he may of his own accord, search out His presence for a second, third and later for a daily helping of his goodness. Being heavenly salt, means letting people taste of the goodness of God that you have in your heart. This tasting of the goodness of God is what king David experienced in his own life and heartily recommended to his people:
Taste and see that the LORD is good! How blessed is the person who trusts in him! (Psa 34:8).
People that do not know and experience God in their lives actually have a bad deal. The principles by which they live are not beneficial. Nations, and even families within them, are torn apart by distrust and self-interest, each fighting fiercely for his own rights. The Lord wants us to present Him to them as the direct opposite. That we may do in all sincerety for indeed He is the Prince of Peace, the Eternal Father who has mercy on His children, the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, leading them to green pastures and to still waters, the God whose lovingkindness is new and fresh every morning.
To continually show kindness, is however easier said than done. The saying goes: “Kindness costs nothing,” but this is not entirely true. It might not cost money but costs much more. Our natural tendency is to be self-centred, withdrawn, even blunt, and it takes self-denial to make a round-about turn and cultivate the exact opposite way of life.
When I step into an elevator, I should do so with a friendly smile on my face, even though I am burdened by the same trials as those inside. My smile might kindle smiles on the faces of some of them causing those two or three to then exit with smile kindling smiles when the doors open, kindling more smiles within the shopping centre; spreading the salt of happiness. The Lord is actually watching us expectantly to see if we are developing into smile kindling salt-shakers. Please do not keep your heavenly salt of inner delight all to yourself.
Let your kindness be known to all men. The Lord is near. (Phil 4:5).
My words should bring life to every conversation I engage in:
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Col 4:6).
There should be a Jesus flavour in everything I say.
B. SALT WORKS AGAINST SPOILAGE.
If we do not have salt in our homes, it will be impossible to make biltong and dried sausage, goodies so much delighted in, in our country. The salt not only adds flavour to them, but also preserves them from spoiling.
Salt of purity:
Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you. (Eph 4:29).
A fly will sit on the sugar bowl and the jam jar, but not on the salt-shaker. Likewise a disciple of Jesus has a cleansing influence on his environment. When he enters a room where dirty jokes are then being told, it becomes quiet; the guilty ones look down at the floor. Magazines that pollute the spirit are not found in his home or office of a godly man and he has no desire to sneakily look at such pictures or programs on his computer.
The salt of intercession:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people; for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Tim 2:1&2).
A peaceful, quiet, dignified, godly existence in a neighbourhood or town can be brought about by faithful intercession by its inhabitants. These precious rewards can be obtained as fruits of prayer.
The future of a country rests on the shoulders of its intercessors and the more faithful they are, the greater that country’s chance of stability and prosperity. Powerful, persistent intercession can stem and reverse the tide of corruption, dishonesty, immorality, laziness and incompetence so that a totally new healthful climate is established. However, prayers of intercession are rather rare. If we would sit next to the Lord Jesus in heaven, tune in on the intercessory waveband and listen to prayers coming to the Throne for governments and high officials, wouldn’t there be long periods of total silence?
When we pray for governments, we should not fail to pray for every individual Christian involved in the function of managing and governing. We should pray that they will emerge from their shells of comfort and allow God to sprinkle His salt through them in their workplaces and not be afraid of the persecution that may result.
The text also calls on us to pray for all people. A woman approached me one day and asked if I would please pray for her because, she said, “I have so many problems and I have no one to pray for me.” Did she really have no Christian relative or friend or were they just caring for themselves? We should pray for our loved ones, for the people of our town or city, and for the people of our country in general.
In Gen 18:22 to 33 it is told how Abraham interceded for the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and was at least instrumental in the salvation of his relative, Lot and his family. God also told you and me that He intends to destroy this entire earth with fire and now it is our duty to intercede for them like Abraham did for Sodom and Gomorrah.
Never say or even think that there is no hope for this or that group of people, family or person. In every nation and town there are those who need to be saved before judgment day or before they pass into eternity. The Lord knows their names and addresses, so just pray in faith and do not let the devil talk you into giving up on them. That son or daughter of yours who has been missing and possibly living in sin for so long, God knows his or her name and address; just pray and leave it to Him to do the work in their hearts, while you speak to those within your reach.
THERE IS PERHAPS NO GREATER FAVOUR WE CAN SHOW ANOTHER THAN TO PRAY FOR HIM OR HER!
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DO ALSO READ THE NEXT STUDY GUIDE IN THIS SERIES:
THE QUALITY OF THE SALT.