Salt, what an amazing ingredient indeed.
Ever wondered what it meant to be salt? In Mt. 5:13 Jesus told us " You are salt of the earth but if salt loses its taste it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing. It must be thrown out of people to walk on."
One of the functions of salt is that it helps preserve food. I know, I'm thinking of tuyo (salted pilchard or anchovies), dried squid and I know this writing is making me hungry.
What salt does is that it prevents the growth of food spoiling bacteria or nasties that can harm us. You see those nasties need moisture to grow and what salt does is to absorb the moisture in the nasties. No moisture, dead nasties.
So salt does not only have what it takes to preserve the good stuff, it also what it needs to go on the offensive against the nasties.
It's like spiritual warfare, we need not only have the right stuff for depending but also the weapons to go on the offensive against spiritual nasties.
In Ephesians 6:10-18, St. Paul wrote:
" Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from His mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with the flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the power, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armour of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and have done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones."
We need those spiritual defences and weapons, to be the salt of the earth and only God can provide these.
With these we can stand firm, preserving what is good, eliminating what nasties we have and helping others to do the same.
The other function of salt is for seasoning, salt enhances the flavour of food. It is worthy to note that when salt is added to a dish, it dissolves and is transformed and at the same time enhancing the flavours, enhancing what is good.
It is transformed in a way that you no longer see it but only know and taste it. In a way it has given itself up for the greater good.
We are also called to do the same, in whatever dish of life we are called to serve and be a part of. We are called to die from ones self for the greater transforming enhancing the dish of life around us.
Ever notices how someone describes a good dish? "It has hint of nuttiness and red wine, caramelized onion, the vegetables cooked to perfection not raw but still crispy, compliments to the chef.....ya di da di da....hey, what happned to salty?
Salt is rare the centre piece of any dish, yet it can make or break a dish. Not enough and the dish is bland, too much and it is ruined.
Same with us and our service if we are lukewarm, we are ineffective and bland, too much or to full of ourselves and we leave a bad taste in someone's mouth. Our service should always seek to glorify the one and only Master (Chef), not us.
A well seasoned dish is when the ingredients are in harmony with one another,
allowing the chef's intended expression to come through.
So it should be with our life and service, we should allow the ultimate Master (Chef) to express Himself through us. Humble, obedient and ever sensitive to the Master's leading, less our will be done and not His.
Salt, who would have thought; Jesus of course.
May you always keep your saltiness, ever ready to serve the Ultimate Master (Chef).
Guest Writer:
Ed Canilao
CFC Melbourne Head
Thanks a lot Ed for the inspiration
