I often get a chuckle at the circuitous routes God takes me on to arrive at a blog topic each week. And sometimes I think that behind-the-scenes info might be helpful to you all.
I had a fairly deep topic in mind for this week and started writing it the middle of last week. I wasn’t too far into it before I felt that something was “off.” If the words and sentences don’t flow together, and I don’t have peace about the topic, I generally let it go, at least for the current week.
No problem. God has always come through for me in over 5 years. But it was now Monday morning and I had nothin’. So I sent a more serious prayer request up to God to please give me something in the next few hours. I started to fret just a bit!
I alternate my breakfasts with peanut butter toast one day, and a couple of scrambled eggs the next. Today was an egg day. Aren’t you glad to know!? As I sat down to eat, readjusting the blanket and the associated dog, that first bite was … blah!
That’s when I realized I had forgotten to put a little salt on it. But Maisy was so comfy that I decided to force it down without the necessary few shakes.
But did I enjoy it? Not at all. It felt like there was virtually no taste whatsoever. I didn’t really even notice the cheese that I added to it. So disappointing!
Now before you roll your eyes at me and tell me to, “Get a life!”, wouldn’t you know that this is where God stepped in and gave me a topic for today?!
It’s not earth-shattering, and it’s likely not something you haven’t heard many times before. But it is what God wanted me to talk about today, and I believe it’s a good reminder for us all.
As I was reading various reflections online about what it means to be salt in this world, I came across a good overview from the website, https://www.gotquestions.org/salt-and-light.html. Here’s how they summarized the effect Christians can have on this hurting world if we take the admonition to “be salt …”:
… salt was used then, as now, as a flavor enhancer. In the same way that salt enhances the flavor of the food it seasons, the followers of Christ stand out as those who “enhance” the flavor of life in this world. Christians, living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to Christ, will inevitably influence the world for good, as salt has a positive influence on the flavor of the food it seasons. Where there is strife, we are to be peacemakers; where there is sorrow, we are to be the ministers of Christ, binding up wounds, and where there is hatred, we are to exemplify the love of God in Christ, returning good for evil (Luke 6:35).
I had to honestly ask myself how much salt was I putting out into this hurting world? Am I influencing the world for good? Am I a peacemaker? Am I being a minister of Christ to the hurting? When challenged on my beliefs or motives or actions, do I fight back, or do I exemplify the love of God in Christ?
I’m definitely not batting 100. I often have good intentions, but the follow-through isn’t always there.
After eating those blah eggs, and reminding myself that, without Christ, the world around us has no true, lasting flavor either, I had to do a little soul-searching. I can’t recall a season in my lifetime where the world had greater need for some salt and light than right now. In fact, the world is hurting on a massive scale.
As followers of Christ, now is our time to have a deep and lasting impact on those in the world who don’t know Christ, and don’t have the perspective and the hope that we do.
Would you join me in pledging to spread some “kindness salt” into the lives of those who desperately need it?
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Colossians 4:6
ALL creatures require salt to live…a tribute to God