Wednesday February 6, 2013

Read Matthew 5:13.

 

Salt less salt. Flavourless salt! It stinks of an incredible contradiction. Salt is meant to be salty. Salt is meant to add flavour. Jesus makes the only pronouncement possible. If salt loses its flavour then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and being trampled on.

 

So, how can a Christian lose his salt? Think about the typical week for Mr T.P Cal Christian. He goes church on Sonday and sits through the service somewhat uncomfortably and endures the singing, the praise and the service that stretches, again, for more than the allotted one hour. He takes nothing with him as he leaves and is quite angered by the incessant talk of sin and repentance during the sermon.

 

Throughout the week Mr T.W.C works hard and pours much energy and effort into his work. He makes lots of money and provides well for his family. But Christ is not with him at work. He likes to keep work at work and church at church. Everything in its proper place has always been his motto.  He likes to go for a few drinks with the guys on Friday after work and often stays too long and has a few too many drinks. Usually it ends in an argument with his wife.

 

Mr T.P Cal doesn’t see any need to teach the kids about Christ. He feels the church is doing enough and a pretty good job at teaching them morals and values. He sees no point in teaching them the Scriptures nor in praying with them and moving them in a mission-hearted direction.

 

Mr T.W.C’s life is about work, money and keeping the family going. Christ has not been invited into all of his life. Throughout the week, he has lost his salt. He has no impact on the people around him, not even his family.

 

While this story is obviously exaggerated for effect, it’s not too far removed from reality for many believers. As the church building shrinks in the rear view mirror as they drive home, Christ also shrinks and slowly disappears until the car is headed towards church the following Sonday. But it really only needs a change of focus to change this entire scenario. It only needs a living encounter with Christ regularly to change the lack of impact. It only takes a small change to turn a pointless, salt less life into a living advertisement for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Think about your own life. What small changes can you make to turn your life into a powerful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ? What small things can you be doing to bring Christ into every area of your life? What small changes can you make to help people in your life see the reality of Christ?

 

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

 

Adoration:

 

 

Confession:

 

 

Thanks:

 

 

Supplication:

¥ Ask the Lord to be working powerfully in you and your fellow members at church to make both you and them into powerful witnesses for Christ. Pray that this witness will bring many people into the Kingdom.

¥ Pray for the work of Shiloh Church ministries. Pray that God would provide for all their needs and that the children in the three orphanages would have adequate food, clothing, school supplies and so on each and every day.

 

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. When Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, what was he saying about us?

2. What is the difference between a salty and salt less Christian?