Salt

You know how you sometimes see the same verse over and over, and then suddenly one day it looks completely different? That just happened to me. All my life I’ve heard Matthew 5:13 telling us how we are like salt.

I never got it.

I mean, I fundamentally understood what it was trying to say. But I didn’t get it.

Enter my handy-dandy two-translation Bible and Viola! A fresh word! (I love it when that happens!) My Bible has both the NIV and The Message in it. Here’s the NIV translation of 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 by men. “

And then here’s The Message translation:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”

Eureka! It makes sense! How cool is that?

I always knew that salt enhances food – it makes things taste better. I got that correlation. But just how did that relate to me as a Christian? What exactly was I enhancing?

God. The Message says that we bring out the "God-flavors of the earth." Not that He needs us to make Him look better, but He has chosen to give us this purpose anyway. He is using us, His children, to draw others to Himself. Let me say it again: how cool is that?

But did you catch the last part? If we’re not enhancing God, we are of no use. Ineffective. A waste of time.

I don’t know about you, but I know how that makes me feel -- can somebody please pass the salt?!?!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

(PS: More Doggie Drama - we're going to check out a puppy Sunday - pray that if she's the one for us we will ALL be in love with her! Thanks!!)