February 16, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, February 16.
This Sunday, our interim pastor, Dr. Tim Watson, will be preaching on the subject of... salt. His text will be these words from Matthew 5:13, words spoken by Jesus - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Today, we use salt primarily to season our food. I don’t use much salt, but many people do. I’ve noticed that some people salt their food even before they taste it! But the words from Matthew 5 were spoken in a time when salt was mostly used as a preservative, a time before refrigeration. Salt wasn’t just an “extra” thing, it was an “essential” thing.
Sometimes Christians read this verse with a sense of pride - “We are the salt of the earth! We are world changers!” But these are actually words of warning. When salt is diluted and contaminated, it loses its purpose. The phrase “trampled under foot” doesn’t describe a secondary or lesser function. In cold climates, salt is also used to provide sure footing, but Jesus spoke these words to a people who knew nothing of ice and snow. He isn’t saying that Christians can become less effective. He’s saying that we can become useless.
As God’s people, we do have the potential to change the world. Through His power that potential can become our purpose.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
