Daily Devotion 

If you’ve ever wondered why the food you cook at home doesn’t taste like food in a restaurant, even if you follow the same recipe, it’s usually for one (or both) of two reasons, salt and fat. Fat adds a richness to the flavor and salt brings out the flavor.

In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us salt.

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

First, take notice that Jesus doesn’t say you should be salt or you could be salt. He makes the declarative statement, “You are the salt of the earth.” As those called through baptism into faith in Jesus Christ, this is who you are…you are salt.

There are many properties to salt, but as Jesus continues the passage He specifically mentions taste. Salt has a flavor and brings out the flavor.

 So, what is our distinctive flavor? What makes us different?

It is Christ, Himself. Lose that and we are no longer special. However, when we live in Christ, we have something special to offer the world…we have Christ.

Other passages of Scripture may help us further understand this concept.  In Mark 9:50, a passage remarkably similar to the Matthew 5 verse, Jesus says,

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

In Colossians 4:6 it says,

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

In both of these passages, salt is related to being gracious and at peace with others. We have been forgiven in Christ and thus we offer grace and forgiveness to others. In fact, we not only give our grace and forgiveness but also point others to the grace and forgiveness they can find in Jesus. We show the love of Christ. This is our distinctive flavor. When shared with others, it brings out that flavor in their lives as they experience the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

You have given us grace when it was not deserved.  You have brought peace with You despite our rebellion.  Help us to also treat others with grace and peace and, in so doing, show them the grace and forgiveness You have for them.

Amen.