Salt

What good is salt if it's lost it's flavour? There are 3 main purposes for the use of salt. To heal, preserve and enhance flavour. Recently within a church service SALT was discussed. It did leave me thinking - am I being effective as the salt I've been called to be? Do my actions and words heal those hurting around me? Do I uphold a high standard and speak up for those who can't speak for themselves? As SALT do I bring out the best in people? Together we shall briefly explore salt and why we've been called to be salt in this world. 

Healing. 

“Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].”

Colossians 4:6 AMP

As you've probably gauged from the tone of this blog I speak on my own experiences (being careful to leave out people's names to maintain privacy for them) and how they've helped me better myself through learning about who I am. You ever heard the saying "Hurt people, hurt people"? When a close friend and I nearly lost our friendship over a situation that hurt me, I decided before meeting up to get all our feelings out to forgive them. This wasn't to gain a medal as the perfect Christian as this wasn't my initial thought. But I decided to let her tell me what happened and the surrounding factors. By giving her time to speak openly and not reacting in a manner of blame and shame; I understood more the actions of all parties involved that lead us to this point. I had an overwhelming sense of compassion and love for her. It's taken time but we began the healing process there and then. But getting out the infected parts and washing them out with Saline (salt water used in medical procedures; in life this is love, forgiveness, compassion and allowing time) the healing process could begin. As Christ loves us in our unlovable state, we are called to be like him and love others unconditionally. It's no easy feat however the liberation is amazing. It's not always easy to do this, especially when you've been hurt however it is importance for both them and yourself to use words that heal. Go ahead be the salt that heals in situations.

Preserving. 

“~‘You shall season every grain offering with salt so that the salt (preservation) of the covenant of your God will not be missing from your grain offering. You shall offer salt with all your offerings.”

Leviticus 2:13 AMP

As SALT we are to preserve and uphold what is right, good and positive. This could include speaking up for those who aren't able to speak for themselves, uplift those who are having a bad day/week/season in their life and share with others your values. Within preserving, it's at the point that the food/body is in its best form and you what to maintain it as such. Do your actions match your words? Many times what we say we believe, post, tweet and like photos about aren't actually what we live up to. We need to maintain and ensure our words match up with our actions daily. Trust me as I say this to you I'm screaming it at myself also. Doing the right thing isn't always easy, especially when the majority around you aren't doing this, but stand out and be confident in doing this.

Enhancing flavour. 

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown our and trampled underfoot as worthless."

Matthew 5:13 NLT

We are also called to enhance the pre-existing flavour that is there. Although it does bring a slight salty taste it also brings out the natural flavour of that food. Just a pinch of salt, or enough salt to individual tasting is all that is required. When I look at this aspect of salt, I remember that although I stand firmly with my beliefs and what I hold to be the truth in this life, I don't' go overboard and overload people with this. I personally feel you don't have to go shouting in people's ears, or bashing them over the head with scriptures. It all starts amongst ourselves as believers, to help, encourage and assist bringing out the best qualities that are within us. Being a loving, kind, compassionate person is how we can help enhance the beautiful flavouring of this world. Being positive together people helps to bring out the best in them, they'll feel more confident in themselves and actually better results will come of this.

Recently I've rejoined the gym (I joined a few years ago and went 4 times in my 5 month membership!!). I was initially petrified and very shy of using anything else other then the treadmill, bike and rowing machine. I knew I needed someone to push me further and explore the other equipment available. So I decided to join a class! Now the nerves really kicked in when the personal trainer and the other class attendees came in also. I saw how the other women were confident jumping up and down and twisting inside out and back to front…okay I'm over-dramatising the whole class. But he took his time with the beginners like myself and another woman and with the seasoned attendees. His calm (yet assertive) approach actually got me doing more then I thought I could do initially, used the weights other machines and I've booked to go back! I say all that to reiterate the point that through encouragement and semi-gentle persistence he was able to get all of us performing better than we all thought we could. Each of us has a gifting, or talent that is of great worth in life. However if you don't use it or your abuse it, it becomes worthless and no longer of use to anyone. In using your salt, ensure you enhance those around you also.

The danger unbalanced salt.

As I had briefly hinted to previously in this post, too much salt is no good! Along with the health issues that are linked into too much salt - hypertension (high blood pressure), it spoils the flavour of the food by being too overpowering. Great chefs/cooks can rectify this normally, however it is always best not to lead in with the overkill and just add more salt if the flavour isn't quite right just yet. A gentle influence can get the most stubborn person to at least understand and see from your point of view, instead of the overload of salt - spoiling the flavour. The Dead Sea also comes to mind when I think of too much salt. This water literally has so much salt that not even fish are able to live in it and it is a hostile environment that all I can do is float on top! We need to also be enough salt that this world doesn't rot, become infected, and be well... BLAND.

"So heavenly minded you're no earthly good. Or even, so earthly minded you're of no use to the kingdom."

Being unbalanced? Avoid that.

Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavour, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.

Mark 9:50 NLT

Ever Evolving

Nov/16