Pass the Salt

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Last Sunday, Pastor Kyle in continuing his sermon series on “What America Really Needs”, said that there is a lot of Christians today thinking that their spiritual breath stinks. That they are out in the world, lacking a sense of urgency to spread the gospel message using their unique gifts and God-given skills, therefore sending the wrong message. What America really needs is the Lord Jesus Christ and God’s plan to reach the world is us. Do we get excited about telling others about Jesus Christ and what he has done in our life? DO we influence others or do others influence us? The Bible passage says that we are the salt of the earth. Being salt is difficult, but really reaches others; substitutes do nothing. The corporate church (the believers that make up the body of Jesus Christ) is to be a spectacle of grace always. In the old world, salt was hard to get and precious. Salt heals, salt preserves, and salt adds flavor, but too much salt makes things worse.

John 1:4-5,9 “In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”

Jesus illuminates our steps, but we are the ones who light the path to Jesus for others. The light of grace from Jesus’ mercy stands out, draws people and transforms them, shining through you and I. The reality is that God’s plan to reach friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, co-workers and the world is you and I. 1 Samuel 8:7 and John 15:18 both state that if they reject our gospel message, they are rejecting the God of the universe and Savior of the world, but good friends, family members, and neighbors tell them the truth and Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 commissions and commands us to do so. In John 1:40-42, Andrew goes and finds his brother Simon (Peter) and brings him to Jesus. Peter became a great leader in the Christian church. You never know what “Peter” is waiting for you and I to bring them to Jesus. Rough exteriors are often trampolines for the great work of Christ in the world. What if Andrew had never told Peter? What if he said “Let someone else tell him”? What if he said, “I don’t want to offend him” or “I don’t think that I am worthy of sharing my faith”? We truly have no excuse for not speaking and telling the truth in love.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Do we really believe in Jesus? Then, lead others to the Lord Jesus, no matter what personality we or they have. Tell others the good news. Time is short and going by quickly. The gospel is only “good news” if it gets there in time – Carl F.H. Henry. What America needs is a spiritual awakening. No one really has one foot in Heaven (light) and one foot in the God-rejecting world system (darkness). In Christianity there is no acting or pretending, only transformation and being. Do we believe that the gospel applies to my friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, and co-workers?

Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There are times when being a witness for Christ and the gospel message of repentance of sin is uncomfortable. In Heaven, every knee shall bow to Jesus regardless. But, this side of eternity, we have one only shot to bow our knee to Jesus. Step over the line and go “all in”. The world needs the Lord. May we take this seriously. In the name of Jesus Chris, may the lost be found and all the glory be to God. Pass the salt please.

In Christ, Brian