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Salt as a healing agent:
Do you have a wound? Add salt water to it and it will help to cleanse the injury and keep the body safe from infection. Whether you soak in salt water or gargle it, its healing power will go to work instantly.
Salt is vital to the health of our bodies. Without the proper amount of salt we would suffer greatly. God has made our bodies dependent upon salt to maintain optimum health, vitality, and even life itself. Salt helps our bodies fight disease. Our cells need salt to function properly. Salt helps regulate the heart and keeps our blood flowing. It helps our kidneys function properly, and it even helps the body fight stress.
Sometimes we don’t fully see or understand the benefits we bring to others as the salt of the earth. The Body of Christ needs our saltiness to remain free of deception and lies, discouragement and listlessness, carelessness and sin.
The tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 NKJV
Note: One of the ways the accuser of the brethren comes to us is by trying to convince us that we are useless and good for nothing. This lie, if believed, will isolate us and keep us from being involved in relationships and ministries where God wants to place us. Like salt, our presence is vital to the health, vitality, and well being of others.
Salt as a commodity:
Salt is a great benefit to a society. It is one of the essential spices of life. For centuries salt has been highly prized, valued, and traded in the marketplace.
As the salt of the earth, your citizenship in the community and in the country in which you live is invaluable. It is your saltiness that helps to keep society’s values strong, its laws just, and its honor strong.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11 NKJV
Note: In the grocery store you can now buy soda crackers that are salted on just one side. Jesus does not want you half-salted. Remain fully salted in the place God has you. He wants you to speak, in season and out of season, the words He gives you to say.
Salt as a melting agent:
This winter has been a good reminder of the negative impact ice and snow can have upon a community and our everyday lives. When roads become dangerous and impassable due to ice and snow, cities will often send out trucks to pour salt upon the roadways and make them safe for travel. Salt is used because it can cut through ice and snow, causing it to thaw and melt away. Once the ice and snow are removed from the roads the normal flow of traffic can continue again and activities within the neighborhood can soon return to normal.
At certain times, the Holy Spirit will use us to reach a cold heart that has been frozen in the ice of bitterness, hurt, or unbelief. The power of His divine love and compassion expressed through our care, our understanding, our words, and our prayers can help to thaw a cold life and see it restored to usefulness once again.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
Note: Salt added to an iced over roadway will be an irritant to the ice as it cuts through to the pavement, but it is necessary in order to restore the roadway to a place of usefulness once again. We should not be surprised if our words are not always received with eagerness or appreciation by the person in need of them.
Salt as a softening agent:
It’s a great convenience to have water flowing into our homes without the need of going outside to prime a pump. However, that does not mean that the water coming into our homes is the best water. Hard water can have many negative effects, such as dulling your hair or turning your white clothes gray. Hard water also brings calcium deposits into your pipes, washing machines, and water heaters.
Add salt to hard water and you turn it into soft water. With soft water bathing and washing is greatly improved, clothes are more gentle, plumbing lasts longer, energy costs are reduced, and the life of your appliances is increased.
When our words are seasoned with salt they will have the hardedge taken off them and our words will be easier for others to receive. Softened words will be free of harshness, sarcasm, coldness, criticism, indifference, and insensitivity. Salted words will not damage relationships, but restore them; not clog up issues, but clarify them; not dull the spirits of others but help them to shine.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29 NKJV
Note: We must learn not to speak in haste, but to wait upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit—speaking His words, in His way, in His tone, in His time. When we speak His words we are giving others the softened water (kindness) of the Spirit, not the hardened water (meanness) of the flesh.
(If you would like to learn more about the many practical uses of salt, you can find a Reader’s Digest article on the internet called the Extraordinary Uses for Salt: Around the House—65 uses are given.)
In Scripture, salt is likened to the words we speak. Paul tells us in Colossians 4:6…
“Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].”
We usually think of salt as having two or three uses. In fact, salt has dozens and dozens of uses. Salt is a change agent. Apply salt to different things and it works in different ways to perform different wonders. Jesus called His disciples “The salt of the earth.” As followers of Jesus Christ, there are dozens of ways that the Holy Spirit will sprinkle our words, as salt, into the lives of others.
Salt as a seasoning:
Salt is a delightful additive to our taste buds. Used in proper amounts it enhances the foods we eat and brings out their unique flavors.
Like salt, there are those that bring a special seasoning of the Spirit to our lives. They add the seasoning of hope, faith, and encouragement into conversations and relationships. Their presence enhances your life whenever you are with them. They say the words that are exactly what your heart needs to hear in a given moment. Words of life, words of truth, words of grace that come from the heart of God.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! Proverbs 15:23 KJV
Note…A little salt goes a long way. Salt does not need to be dominant in order to be useful. Pour too much salt on something and it will overpower the inherent flavor of the food. We don’t need to dominate people or conversations in order to be salt.
Salt as a preservative:
As a preservative, salt keeps things safe from injury, destruction, or decay. Before the days of refrigeration, salt was used by commercial fishing boats to keep their catch safe and fresh until they could return to port and bring the fish to market.
Our homes, our work place, our marriages, our friendships, and our churches all need the preserving power of the Holy Spirit working through us. As the salt of the earth we help to keep people from being injured, marriages from being destroyed, businesses from becoming corrupted, and ministries from being overtaken by death and decay. As the salt of the earth we help to keep things sound and secure; healthy and protected; prosperous and blessed.
Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God—that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection]. 1 Peter 3:9 AMP
Note…Salt will always be salt. It will always do what salt does. You do not need to strive to become salt. Jesus is the one who has made us salt. Without His life in us and His words on our tongues we have no saltiness.
We will continue our look at salt in the next posting.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17 NKJV
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Acts 1:1 NKJV
You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:13-14 AMP
Truth does not hop around on one foot. It walks forward on two strong, well balanced legs. Jesus taught the truth and lived the truth. He never placed what He did above what He said. Jesus spoke as He heard the Father speak (John 17:8, 8:28) and Jesus did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). Luke, in the books of Acts, reminds us of these two things by stating that his writings focused on both what Jesus did and what Jesus said.
Sometimes we can put an emphasis on “doing” and make that the most important thing, and sometimes we can put the emphasis on “teaching” and make that the most important thing. One of these truths must never be emphasized at the expense of the other. As believers in Christ we are called to live the Gospel and preach the Gospel; demonstrate the Kingdom and proclaim the Kingdom; do good works and teach good doctrine; live a life of love and speak the truth in love.
In Matthew 5:13-14 Jesus tells His disciples that they are both the salt of the earth and the light of the world. They were not told that some of them were salt and some were light, or that they should choose to be one or the other. Jesus stated that they were both salt and light, even though there is a great difference between the two. The difference between salt and light is significant. Jesus used salt and light as metaphors to help the disciples understand the importance of both their actions and their words.
When Jesus said to His disciples that they were “the light of the world” He was speaking about the power and impact of their actions upon the lives of others. When Jesus called the disciples “the salt of the earth” He was speaking about the power and impact of their words upon the lives of others. His message was that both through their actions and their words the Father would be glorified.
As the “the light of the world” we have a message to live, and as “the salt of the earth” we have a message to give; we have something people need to see and hear. Jesus wants to work though us with deeds that need to done and words that need to be spoken into the hearts and lives of others so that the Father will be glorified.
In the next posting we will take a closer look at what it means to be “the salt of the earth”.
It has come to my attention that not everyone who subscribes to Meet Me in the Meadow received my final posting on Psalm 23. I am not sure why this happened, but I have decided to repeat verse 6 in today’s posting for those who might have missed it. Thank you.
Psalm 23, Verse 6
Surely: No “I wonder?” No “I wish!” No “I hope so.” Without a doubt. Without a question. Without a concern or worry. Knowing whose I am and who He is. God of His word, God of His promise. God of His covenant. God of His oath. God who cannot and will not fail, falter, or forget.
Goodness: Not meanness. Not cruelty. Not unkindness. His goodness. The goodness of God— The goodness in His nature, the goodness in His character, the goodness in His being. Everything about Him good—every thought, every action, every attitude, every decision, every work, every word. Good in His will. Good in His gifts. Good to me. Good every moment. Good all the time. Extending goodness—not as little as He can give, but as much as He can give. Being the best, giving the best, wanting the best. Delighting to shower me with His graciousness—time after time, over and over, now and forevermore.
And mercy: Sweet mercy! Welcomed friend! Wonderful companion! New every morning. Fresh from His heart. Lifting condemnation. Releasing my past. Breaking my chains. Freeing my spirit. Renewing my hope. Securing my future. Mercy upon mercy. Mine in abundance. Kindly extended. Beautifully given. Graciously bestowed.
Shall follow me: Not ‘There’s a good possibility.” Not “a 50/50 chance.” Will follow! Never to retreat, abandon, or flee. Absolute certainty. Promised by the God who cannot lie. His benefits and blessings—Mine to receive. Mine to enjoy. Mine to celebrate. Keeping me from being defeated. Guarding me from being pulled back into my past. Protecting me from being overtaken by things I cannot control. His divine escorts on my pilgrim journey.
All the days of my life: Not once-in-awhile. Not hit-and-miss. Not off-and-on. Not just on good days. Not just on church days. All my days—Cloudy days. Stormy days. Busy days. Quiet days. Days filled with joy. Days filled with sorrow. Days when I feel up. Days when I feel down. Every day. Every moment. Every step. Every breath. Every heartbeat.
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever: The forever place—not temporary, not momentary, not transitory. The Father’s house. My reserved place. My prepared place. Home! Never to be kicked out, evicted, or left homeless. The place my faith has thought upon. The place my hope is set upon. The place where I belong. The place I was made for. Jesus’ place. The place where I am welcomed. The place where I am received. Mine by inheritance. Mine by grace. Mine forever and ever. In the company of the redeemed. In the presence of the Lord. Seeing Him face to face. Knowing even as I am known. Completely fulfilling all my heart has ever longed for since the moment I took my first breath.
Have no fears or worries,
Simply be at rest—
Trusting in your Father,
He knows what is best.
His love rests upon you,
Angels are everywhere—
Your heart can be certain
You are in His care.
Mercy, grace, and kindness
His love freely brings—
Faithfully He’ll keep you
Covered by His wings.
Everything He’s promised
He will surely do—
God, Who sees the sparrow,
Watches over you.
“…Under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4 KJV
Let me learn—
That the way down is the way up,
That to be low is to be high,
That the broken heart is the healed heart,
That the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
That the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
That to have nothing is to possess all,
That to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
That to give is to receive,
That the valley is the place of vision.
-Puritan Prayer
More is being planned for by God than had been prayed for by us.
-S.D. Gordon
If all my members are really at His disposal, why should I be put out if today’s appointment is some simple work for my hands or errands for my feet, instead of some seemingly more important doing of head or tongue?
-F.R. Havergal
Whatever He wills becomes great to us, however seemingly trifling…we have no right to measure its importance. On the other hand, whatever He would not have us do, however important we may think it, is as nought to us. How do you know what you may lose by neglecting this duty, which you think so trifling, or the blessing which its faithful performance may bring?
-Jean Nicolas Grou
His water quenches my thirst; I don’t need to dig other cisterns.
His bread fills my hunger; I don’t need to gather up crumbs.
His banqueting table is extravagant; I don’t need to eat at outside diners.
His presence is fullness of joy; I don’t need to seek ways to find fulfillment.
His peace passes understanding; I don’t need to get an artificial fix.
His will is perfect; I don’t need to acquire a better plan.
His wisdom is flawless; I don’t need to listen to the world’s point of view.
His grace is sufficient; I don’t need to obtain superficial help.
His redemption is complete; I don’t need to hunt for another savior.
His covenant is certain; I don’t need to read a different guarantee.
His provision meets my needs; I don’t need to be on a quest for more.
His kingdom is unshakable; I don’t need to find a more secure place to stand.
His smile is enough; I don’t need to seek the applause of others.
His life is glorious; I don’t need to look for another reason to live.
His return is sure; I don’t need to let my heart be troubled.
I am not sure when the word “ineffable” (incapable of being expressed or described in words) came into the English language, but it must have come as a result of someone trying to describe and explain the meaning of God’s grace. Grace is truly a word that goes beyond description. Grace is not God’s “a little bit more”; Grace is God’s “so much more.” How much more? More than you could ever ask for, more than you could ever think about, more than you could ever grasp.
Consider these Scriptures that speak to us about the “much more” of God’s ineffable grace toward us.
God feeds the birds because they are of value to Him. He made them and they live for His glory. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? Luke 12:24 NKJV
If God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you [people] of little faith? Luke 12:48 AMP
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10 NKJV
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. Romans 5:15 NKJV
For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 NKJV
When the prodigal son returned home, how did the father respond? With as little favor as he could, or with as much as he could?
Not: Waiting on the front porch. But: Running to meet him.
Not: A handshake. But: An embrace.
Not: Bring him some clean clothing; something nice to wear. But: Bring him the best robe.
Not: Hand him the garment. But: Put it on him.
Not: Here’s a list of things to do in order to get back in my graces. But: Here is the ring of my authority, power, and favor.
Not: Here’s a repair kit and some polish to fix-up your old sandals. But: Here are new shoes for your feet. (Shoes that allow you to tread over all the power of the enemy.)
Not: Let’s go get a hamburger. But: Let’s go kill and prepare the fatted calf. It’s time for a feast.
Not: Your return makes me smile. But: Let us revel, make merry, celebrate, and be overjoyed, for you were lost but now you are found.
F.B. Meyer tells us this about the “much more” of God’s ineffable grace…
God forgives, not meagerly but royally, gracefully, abundantly. His forgiveness is worthy of Himself, proportioned to the wealth of His glorious being, and according to the riches of His grace. He does more than forgive, He “remembers no more.” He does more than forget, He sets the joy-bells ringing, and cries, “Let us make merry.” He does more than this; He insets the scars of our sins with jewels; where sin abounded, His grace abounds much more; and all because of the Blood that has set free this wealth of mercy.
What a wonderful word grace is to us, what a wonderful gift it is in us, what a glorious provision it is for us. God’s divine favor, freely extended to you in abundance, through Jesus Christ. Let your faith receive His grace. Let your heart delight in His grace. Let your soul rejoice in His grace. Today, take a few moments and soak in the river of His grace that abounds toward you, the grace that brings you one blessing after another…
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 KJV
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 KJV
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16 NIV
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32 KJV
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7 KJV
God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1 KJV
That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7 KJV
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 KJV
But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6 KJV
But grow in grace…2 Peter 3:18 KJV
Grace be with you… 2 John 1:3 KJV
Surely: No “I wonder?” No “I wish!” No “I hope so.” Without a doubt. Without a question. Without a concern or worry. Knowing whose I am and who He is. God of His word, God of His promise. God of His covenant. God of His oath. God who cannot and will not fail, falter, or forget.
Goodness: Not meanness. Not cruelty. Not unkindness. His goodness. The goodness of God—the goodness in His nature, the goodness in His character, the goodness in His being. Everything about Him good—every thought, every action, every attitude, every decision, every work, every word. Good in His will. Good in His gifts. Good to me. Good every moment. Good all the time. Extending goodness—not as little as He can give, but as much as He can give. Being the best, giving the best, wanting the best. Delighting to shower me with His graciousness—time after time, over and over, now and forevermore.
And mercy: Sweet mercy! Welcomed friend! Wonderful companion! New every morning. Fresh from His heart. Lifting condemnation. Releasing my past. Breaking my chains. Freeing my spirit. Renewing my hope. Securing my future. Mercy upon mercy. Mine in abundance. Kindly extended. Beautifully given. Graciously bestowed.
Shall follow me: Not “There’s a good possibility.” Not “a 50/50 chance.” Will follow! Never to retreat, abandon, or flee. Absolute certainty. Promised by the God who cannot lie. His benefits and blessings—Mine to receive. Mine to enjoy. Mine to celebrate. Keeping me from being defeated. Guarding me from being pulled back into my past. Protecting me from being overtaken by things I cannot control. His divine escorts on my pilgrim journey.
All the days of my life: Not once-in-awhile. Not hit-and-miss. Not off-and-on. Not just on good days. Not just on church days. All my days—Cloudy days. Stormy days. Busy days. Quiet days. Days filled with joy. Days filled with sorrow. Days when I feel up. Days when I feel down. Every day. Every moment. Every step. Every breath. Every heartbeat.
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever: The forever place—not temporary, not momentary, not transitory. The Father’s house. My reserved place. My prepared place. Home! Never to be kicked out, evicted, or left homeless. The place my faith has thought upon. The place my hope is set upon. The place where I belong. The place I was made for. Jesus’ place. The place where I am welcomed. The place where I am received. Mine by inheritance. Mine by grace. Mine forever and ever. In the company of the redeemed. In the presence of the Lord. Seeing Him face to face. Knowing even as I am known. Completely fulfilling all my heart has ever longed for.
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