Devotion 2: Salt

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." Matthew 5:13

I am not a good cook. I am a single man who is very content with eating basic foods that don’t require much setup. I like making meals like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, Kraft mac and cheese, and microwaved hotdogs. Even though I am not a good cook, I sometimes use salt to season my meals. I use it on fries, burgers, and even mac and cheese. When I add salt to my food, it adds flavor. Salt is good for adding flavor to food, and it was also used to preserve food.

Yes, salt is great for adding flavor and preserving food, so why does Jesus tell those who are in the crowd during the Sermon on the Mount, that they are the “salt of the earth”? Why is faith in Christ compared to salt? Salt preserves food from going bad, so followers of Jesus are meant to help the world from being completely separate from God. The world is already evil and far from God, but if there were no Christ-followers in the world, then there would be absolutely no hope for the Gospel to take root. God chooses to use us, despite our brokenness, to lead people to Christ and to help preserve the righteousness that we are created to follow. Salt also adds flavor, which means, when compared to our faith, we are to live in a way that gives God honor and glory.

Jesus warns that when salt loses its taste it is no longer good and it should be thrown out and destroyed. Jesus has a high standard for His followers. We should always be examples of righteousness. Why would God use us if we are not living in a way that showcases righteousness? Why would God use us if we don’t have a high standard of moral living?

Christ wants us to be the salt of the earth. He wants us to defend what is right and live righteously. We are saved by God’s grace alone through faith, but we are also called to look different after our salvation. Are you living the way that pleases God? If not, this passage makes a clear warning to those who don’t live for the Lord. I encourage you to follow Christ’s statement and be the salt of the world.