Salty or Bland

Matthew 5:13
Mark 9:50
Luke 14:34
 
What is salt used for and what is it good for?
 
Salt Seasons:
To treat or to prepare for use, to give more flavor.
Spiritual saltiness - Do not blend in.

You add salt to enhance the flavor of food. We are the salt that God uses to lead hungry people to food. But if we are not 'salty' enough we are of no-good use. We have become worthless. If we begin to become unsalted, then we need to get back in the Word. If a person has an injury or an illness, it may require intravenous (IV) fluids of sodium chloride to aid in his recovery. If Christians suffer a similar spiritual ordeal, they may need a spiritual IV. 

• 1 Peter 3:15, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

 
Salt Purifies:
To clean from imperfection.

Salt is used to clean from imperfections. Just as medical professionals use normal saline (salt water) to clean out a wound, we are to be that salt to the world. We cannot clean the world, but the world should see Christ in us which leads to cleaning. It will and does sting, but it is necessary. Sometimes we Christians need a little cleaning to remove the impurities that we have allowed to come into our lives. In some cases, salt is added to water to make it able to drink. 

• James 4:8, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinner; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

 
Salt Preserves:
To reserve for special use, to save from harm.

Salt is used to preserve for special use, or to save from harm. Preserves are good on a nice hot buttered biscuit, especially homemade preserves. Have you ever opened up a jar and found that wax ring on the top? That was placed there to preserve the fruit. With that thought in mind, Christ puts that salt or wax around us to preserve us for special use, to reach the world. Unfortunately, some Christians 'wax' is a little thin and the preserves do not last.

Meat that is hung in a smokehouse has a layer of salt on it as a preservative. It acts as a barrier. God always places that barrier of saltiness around us to preserve us now and for future service. However, like the meat in a smokehouse, that barrier can wear thin if we do not continually apply the salt (keep in the Word). 

• Isaiah 49:8, Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, an give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

 
Salt Irritates:
To provoke displeasure and impatience.
Put salt in a wound and what happens? Salty Christians always sing, worship & praise the Lord wherever they are or regardless of circumstances. Salty Christians study the Word, and they witness. Sinners do not like that; it irritates their lifestyle. That means the Holy Spirit is convicting their hearts.

​Some churches and Christians have lost their saltiness, they sooth rather than irritate. Their saltiness has become watered down. They have turned the church into a social club, a place for people to network. Instead of winning souls, Christians have become politically correct. Christians have set aside their differences from the world (their Christian life) and they do not want to offend anyone or hurt anyone's feelings. They want to get together and do good work, show how good they are, and increase their social standing. 

• 2 Timothy 4:2, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (Whether it's convenient or not.)

 
Types of salt:

Salt may come in different forms, but it is still salt.

• Rock salt melts ice (cold heart).
• Table salt is used in food preparation (prepared heart).
• Epsom salt, although not a true salt, is used for health reasons (condition of the heart).
• Substitute salt is not healthy because it contains chemicals that can cause other health problems.
• Seasoned salt is a blend of salt, herbs, and spices.

 
What does it mean to be “good for nothing?” Of little worth or useless.

If I am not doing good, then I must be doing wrong, I must be counterproductive. If I am not drawing people to Christ, I must be pushing them away. If I am not showing them the right way, then I must be showing them the wrong way.

How will we stand before God with nothing to show for our salvation? We do not work for our salvation. It is a free gift from God, but we must work after receiving the gift.
​
Has our spiritual saltiness gotten wet?