Daily Devotional: Matthew 5:13

Theme: Are We Really Being the Salt of the Earth?

Scripture: “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

When it comes to Jesus’ sermon on the Mount and this scripture specifically, we see a very urgent message: we’re called to be different, set apart, and nothing like the world that we live in. But when Jesus mentions us being the salt of the Earth, do we really understand what that means?

Over the years, we’ve seen this scripture preached and taught as if this was our justification for being “successful” and the “star” in the world that grabs the attention of those around us. However, I am convinced greatly that Jesus was referring more to our hearts and moral foundation than anything else. Let’s just start with what being the “salt of the Earth” actually means. In biblical context, it’s referring to counteracting evil with goodness. How do we do this? Well, this lends to a lot of Jesus’ teachings on our motives being pure, our interactions with others (including our enemies) being of peace and love, walking in complete integrity (in business and personally), and so on.

Being the salt of the Earth is basically a positive influence that infiltrates the Earth in a way that makes us stand out. It’s preserving the Earth from the moral decay that we see today! Moral decay? Yup.

“Moral decay” refers to a gradual decline or erosion of ethical principles, values, and social norms within a society, often manifesting as a breakdown of trust, decreased empathy, disregard for honesty, and a lack of accountability among individuals within that community; essentially, a weakening of the sense of right and wrong within a society.

What Does Salt Actually Do?

But before we dig further into this, let’s take a look at what salt actually does in general. As we know, salt is an essential ingredient that honestly goes within almost anything, if not everything. Generally, it preserves and keeps things from spoiling, prevents ice/snow buildup on surfaces, it makes things taste better, it amplifies opposite flavors (i.e. sweet, sour, + so on), etc.

Overall, salt:

• Flavors things
• Preserves
• Sacrifices
• Destroys
• Fertilizes

Granted, we’re well aware of salt adding flavor and acting as a preservative, however, did you know that it does the remaining 3 things? Yes! Salt acts as a “sacrifice” because in the bible, they often added salt as a symbol of “covenant” during sacrifices. It actually meant a covenant of friendship and perpetual worship to the Lord in the Torah. Therefore, imagine how much more our being like “salt” as Jesus said acts as a covenant with God in complete “friendship + worship”? Remember that we’re called “living sacrifices, holy and acceptable”, right? No longer animals.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” — Romans 12:1

As it relates to destroying, salt has compounds that kills bacteria by drawing out the water in the bacteria cells which dehydrates them, causing them to die. This is called Osmosis. So, just off of the basic knowledge of how salt operates as a “destroyer” of the bad organisms like bacteria——could we fathom our ability to be able to actually defeat/destroy evil by just being “good” or righteous? Our ability to actually show forth the power of Christ through our lives by walking in righteousness, giving the Holy Spirit the ability to flow through us completely—-dismantling the devil’s plans/schemes to bring destruction, division, and chaos? What a change that would bring, right?

Last but no least, our ability to be able to be a “fertilizer” of God’s seed [His word] which would allow others to grow and be fruitful would be so amazing. Instead of most of what we see in the modern day church, where entertainment and antics and false “self-centered” doctrine has to be forefront to get seats filled—-we’d see the truth of God’s word preached and those who hear it, be cultivated in such a way that once God “waters” His word in their hearts—we’d see waves of salvation and change happening throughout the Earth. Whew!

REFLECTION:

Just sitting with this one verse and marinating on what Jesus was implying is profound in and of itself. As we walk through the rest of our week, let’s unpack His intentions with using salt as the analogy and reflect on whether we’ve demonstrated ANY if not all of the qualities of salt. Have we really done a great job at preserving, adding flavor to, and fertilizing the world? Or have we become a part of the problem by trying to be more LIKE the world instead?

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

Rather than following Jesus’ teachings and actions, we’ve become more drawn to the successes and ways of how the world functions (lust of the eyes, lust of flesh, + the pride of life). This is what we see in the body of Christ today—-Lukewarm Christianity, which is so dangerous. I’ve been there and have had to repent for being Lukewarm and un-sacrificial in showing my love towards God by applying the word that Jesus taught us, especially as it relates to “dying the the flesh” daily. So, if you too have found yourself in a place of not being the salt and rather losing your “taste” as Matthew 5 mentions—–simply repent and ask God to help you get on fire for Him, His word, and the endurance that it takes to carry out our assignment of being “salty”.

The world won’t be as receiving as we hope, things will be hard, we’ll have to endure persecution and mockery, but in the end—–if we don’t allow our saltiness to lose it’s taste, we’ll be able to conquer and destroy evil in a way that preserves the Earth. Let’s give the Lord our complete yes, lean to Him for strength, and be led by His ways!

Salt lasts. Salt is potent. Salt is apparent (especially coarse in texture). Salt is noticeable (especially in taste). Salt is good. Salt is godly.

God Bless.