Tun Lin
Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2020
- Messages
- 67
Dear Friends , Let me share a few thought from the book of Matthew as follow; your suggestion and comments will be warmly welcome!
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.”
Introduction:
The Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification. Jesus gives a metaphor (salt) that depicts those who represent the kingdom. He also turns to the calling and position of His disciples in the world Matthew 5:13a: “You are the Salt of the Earth”
The word “You” is emphatic: Emphatic means to express something clearly or forcibly take decisive action. Jesus wanted to make it abundantly clear that every believer is a representative of His Kingdom. He clearly and strongly declared that His followers are to be salt to the world.
Application: Believers and followers of Christ have a duty to the world and that is to be like salt.
The word “Salt:” Salt creates thirst and taste when it comes to eating. Believers should affect others positively just as salt gives thirst and taste.
Application: As the salt of the earth, you must show the thirst and taste of Christ to the people of the world.
The word “Earth:” The phrase “of the earth” refers to the sphere of ministry of Jesus’ disciples. It can be also said that the people living around us are known as the earth. Jesus said to His followers that they are the salt of the earth. Application: The people of this world should experience your taste as you live together with them. Matthew 5:13b: “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
The word “Loses its Saltiness:” When salt loses its ability to enhance flavor, it loses its effectiveness. The only way for pure salt to lose its flavor is to mix it with other chemicals. It still looks like salt but it has lost its saltiness. We lose our testimony in the world if we mix the truth with other elements. Some followers of Christ lost their saltiness because they mixed their lives with evil.
Application: If you are too much like the world, you will be worthless. As a follower of Christ, you should not blend in with everyone else. Matthew 5:13c: “It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men”
The word “It is no longer good for anything:” Salt that loses its effectiveness is worthless and so it is no longer good for anything. If salt has no flavor, it has no value because it can neither preserve nor provide taste.
Application: If you make no effort to affect the people around you, you are of little value to God. If you lose your effectiveness for Christ you make yourself worthless.
Conclusion: No believer can live in separation from the world. Believers are not of the world, but we are in the world. The purpose of a salty believer is to make an effect on others. Many individual believers have lost their appeal to non-believers. A true believer in Christ cannot live in isolation or cocoon from society. Remember that God has designed you to reach out and touch the non-believers.
Blessings to you!
His Servant (Tun Lin)
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.”
Introduction:
The Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification. Jesus gives a metaphor (salt) that depicts those who represent the kingdom. He also turns to the calling and position of His disciples in the world Matthew 5:13a: “You are the Salt of the Earth”
The word “You” is emphatic: Emphatic means to express something clearly or forcibly take decisive action. Jesus wanted to make it abundantly clear that every believer is a representative of His Kingdom. He clearly and strongly declared that His followers are to be salt to the world.
Application: Believers and followers of Christ have a duty to the world and that is to be like salt.
The word “Salt:” Salt creates thirst and taste when it comes to eating. Believers should affect others positively just as salt gives thirst and taste.
Application: As the salt of the earth, you must show the thirst and taste of Christ to the people of the world.
The word “Earth:” The phrase “of the earth” refers to the sphere of ministry of Jesus’ disciples. It can be also said that the people living around us are known as the earth. Jesus said to His followers that they are the salt of the earth. Application: The people of this world should experience your taste as you live together with them. Matthew 5:13b: “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
The word “Loses its Saltiness:” When salt loses its ability to enhance flavor, it loses its effectiveness. The only way for pure salt to lose its flavor is to mix it with other chemicals. It still looks like salt but it has lost its saltiness. We lose our testimony in the world if we mix the truth with other elements. Some followers of Christ lost their saltiness because they mixed their lives with evil.
Application: If you are too much like the world, you will be worthless. As a follower of Christ, you should not blend in with everyone else. Matthew 5:13c: “It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men”
The word “It is no longer good for anything:” Salt that loses its effectiveness is worthless and so it is no longer good for anything. If salt has no flavor, it has no value because it can neither preserve nor provide taste.
Application: If you make no effort to affect the people around you, you are of little value to God. If you lose your effectiveness for Christ you make yourself worthless.
Conclusion: No believer can live in separation from the world. Believers are not of the world, but we are in the world. The purpose of a salty believer is to make an effect on others. Many individual believers have lost their appeal to non-believers. A true believer in Christ cannot live in isolation or cocoon from society. Remember that God has designed you to reach out and touch the non-believers.
Blessings to you!
His Servant (Tun Lin)
