Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 2, 2020
Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Matthew 5:13, MSG
I like cooking. I like creating, and by trial and error, enjoying to varying degrees the results of my cooking attempts. I especially like the pre-planned meals that arrive on our doorstep, full of fresh meat and produce. Included are step by step instructions for each of the healthy dinners inside with picture menus and pre-packaged ingredients in just the right amounts. Yes, I still dice the onions or poblano peppers, but the satisfaction of creamy chicken chowder is worth the effort. I am learning: salt and seasoning are the secret to tasty food!
Jesus reminds all of us who are His followers that we are the seasoning for a world longing to satisfy their soul’s hunger pains. He says clearly, “You are the salt of the earth.” Not you will become, or you must be—but you are! A life of love sprinkled like salt on the faith of a hungry life brings out sweet and savory flavors, so they can “taste and see that the Lord is good”. But Jesus warns us we can lose our saltiness. No amount of rice can save salt that never leaves the shaker. Eventually unused salt becomes useless, but scattered salt grows influence for God.
Scripture mentions at least two ways to be salt to those hungry for God—grace and peace.
Let Your Conversations Be Full Of Grace
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6).
Words can be salty, tasty and satisfying to the soul—or they can be bland, unacceptable and nauseating to a heart’s inner need for nourishment. A conversation full of grace grows trust—requiring a Spirit-led approach that is sensitive to the other person’s needs. Too many words can be like screwing off the top of a salt shaker and dumping a white mound on an otherwise delicious meal—overwhelming and unnecessary. In contrast, words sprinkled here and there bring out the best flavors of interaction between two souls hungry for intimacy. Patient listening leads to productive conversation. So, lean into a humble approach that serves up kindness and timely words salted with grace.
Let Your Conversation Produce Peace
“Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:49-50).
Every life is salted with the fires of adversity and conflict, so there need to be productive conversations that lead to peaceful outcomes. Be at peace with others. Are you a person of peace, or does anger or pride drive you to be divisive? A person of peace does not withhold information from another to gain a sense of control or advantage. Instead, there is full disclosure with a goal for everyone to be on the same page by over communicating with clarity. We value others when we bring helpful solutions to potentially destructive problems. Salty words of peace offered in the right tone at the right time bring honor and healing. Relational preservation works in a similar fashion to salt preserving meat for future enjoyment. Peace follows humility. As a Jesus follower you are the seasoning of grace and peace, salt to a bland and unbelieving world!
“You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world” ( Matthew 5:13, The Living Bible)?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, show me by Your Spirit how to season my speech with grace and peace, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Who needs extra patience from me to communicate clearly and listen with understanding?
Related Reading
Proverbs 1:5; Ephesians 4:29; 1Peter 3:15; James 1:19, 22
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