You are the Salt

(Matthew 5:13)  "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.

This was during the sermon on the mount, where Jesus was speaking to His disciples. These disciples represent you and me and the church of Christ in this generation. He tells them that they are the salt. The same mandate that Jesus gave to His disciples is still applicable to us today.

One can't help but think what did Jesus mean by that. In the ancient time salt had value, it had value in such a way that sometimes the Roman soldiers were paid their salaries in salt. Sometimes, not always. That's how valuable the salt was back then. Jesus wanted to emphasize the value of His disciples on earth.

Now what are the characteristics of salt? What was Jesus saying about His disciples here? Could it be that since salt adds taste in food so should we also add taste to this world we live in? Should we add flavour in to other peoples lives?

As the whiteness of the salt, could it be that we should be pure as Christians? Could it be that it means we must be sin free. Maybe since the salt stings when it comes with the wound so should we as Christians sting the world for their sins and rebuke them, judge them? I don't think that's what Jesus was saying.

However, salt has another important purpose which just might be what Jesus was referring to. Salt also works as preservative for decay. His disciples understood the metaphor when Jesus said "you are the salt of the earth", why? Because they themselves were the fisherman when Jesus found them. They were familiar with that function of salt as the fish they use to catch would quickly rot when they pack unless they pack it in salt, it won't spoil and will last longer when packed.

So as Christians we are to prevent the sin from decaying the world we live in. How? By the way we live in the world we are in, in the community. By showing love to our neighbours, by giving to the poor and preaching the Gospel. We have Christians that would care less about other people. Christians who are not in good relationship with their neighbours yet Jesus expect us to be the salt that prevents sin decay in people, but instead of being peace makers we are at war with others. Let alone others, we have Christians who can't stand each other in the same church, they are enemies.

As the church, we need to serve the community we are in. Be the influence in that community. The church must take care of the needy, the orphans. It must show them love and preach the Gospel. Not rebuke people, must not judge them. For if we do so, then we would have lost our saltiness and be deserving to be thrown away.

That's what Jesus warns us about when He said: "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." I know someone may wonder how does the salt loses it's saltiness. Yes in the time we live in today salt can never lose it's saltiness, but in that time of Jesus it would. once it has it would be of no use so they would throw it in a pathway where people walk. That was to make sure that grass do not grow tall in that area so the pathway could be clear. It be comes poisonous. So people would trample on it.

So I we disobey God we become corrosive and poisonous, but Jesus does not say we lose our salvation. He said saltiness so if you feel you have not obeyed God, repent and be restored.

Jesus continue and say: "14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. " How do you light the world? By the lifestyle you live amongst other people. When you want to see the effectiveness if the light, wait until it's dark. It doesn't matter how little that light might be, but in the dark everyone will notice it. It will catch attention to everyone. That's the kind of a lifestyle we need the live as Christians, as the church. Be there for people in their darkest hour, bring hope and love.

If you are the light you can not be hidden, you like a town built on a hill. You shine for everyone.

Have you lost your saltiness, have you put your light under the bowl? Have you bee disobedient to God's word? There is still a way. God is a God of Restoration, He will restore you. Repent and be forgiven and be restored.

Oh how happy are the poor in Spirit

(Matthew 5)

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The word Blessed literally means "oh how happy". So Jesus literally said "oh how happy are the poor in spirit," somehow I don't think that the poor in spirit could be happy, mostly people who are poor in spirit and living in poverty can be very bitter. And being poor in spirit does not necessarily make them happy, yet Jesus said: "blessed are the poor in spirit."

Jesus is not talking about physical poverty here, notice that He said poor in spirit. This is in opposition to being proud, when a man comes in to a real confrontation with God. When you get to a true confrontation with God you result in to a poverty of spirit. A person who is proud and haughty has not yet had a true confrontation with God, for they don't see themselves as wicked and sinful.

(Isiah6:1,5) Isaiah writes, "And in the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on the throne, high and lifted up, and his train did fill the temple...Then said I, woe is me! For I am undone; and I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell amongst a people of unclean lips" this is what happens when a man has a true encounter with God "Woe is me! I am undone"

Daniel, when he saw the Lord said, "My beauty was turned into corruption" (Daniel 10:8). When Peter had his confrontation he said, "Depart from me; for Lo, I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:8). The man who truly sees God sees himself in truth.

Jesus said we do err because we so often are comparing ourselves with others around us. And when I look at you, I don't look near so bad. When I look at your flaws and your faults I'd be, well, I'm not too bad. Look at them. But when I look at the Lord, that purity, that holiness, that righteousness, I say, Oh, God help me. Woe is me, I'm undone. That is what poverty of spirit is. It's a true evaluation of myself, not in the light of man but in the light of God, where I see the real truth about me and it brings me to that, oh God help me. I need help. The same thing that Paul said, "Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)

That is the result from the true confrontation with God, and Jesus said happy is that person. Remember, this was the sermon on the mount. This message was not just for anyone, but for the disciples of Jesus. And in this generation I'll say it's the church, Christians, people who call themselves as children of God.

Jesus was telling us that you can't have the spirit of pride yet you say you are saved. Something about your spirit should change. When a Christian has a spirit of pride then you must know they haven't had a true confrontation with God. Why? Because you have realized that you are poor in spirit and you need God to comfort you and renew your spirit.

(Matthew 5:4): Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Happy are they that mourn. But having come to a real awareness of myself in the light of God, coming to that poverty of spirit, my heart is broken over my own condition. I mourn over my failures, over what I see of myself and in myself. But the promise of the Lord is: they shall be comforted.

As the Lord begins to minister to me, the power of his Holy Spirit and his strength, and i begin now to experience those victories of Jesus Christ in my life and that makes me indeed happy. But it doesn't come until you realize that you are helpless, powerless, you have no strength and ability. Then you cry out of your helplessness and you begin to experience the power of God in your life.