From Dream to Deliverance
Monday, September 27, 2004
My Prayer Today
I thank You for giving me the hope of salvation. I want to be like salt to those around me. I want to stand up against godlessness and speak the truth in love. I ask that You would help me in every area of my life to act as a preservative for Biblical truth. I need Your strength and grace to do this. Thank You for all that You have done in my life, and for sending others to be like salt to me. In Jesus' name . . . Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Matthew 5:13-16
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make salt useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16 In the same way, let you good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
Reflecting on God’s Word
According to verse 13, what image does Jesus use to describe our Christian witness?
Why should Christians be like salt to the earth?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
How does one become like "salt" to someone else?
How does one become like "salt" in a community?
How does one become like "salt" to the world?
Understanding God’s Word
What are some characteristics of salt?
How does salt act as a preserving agent?
In what ways do Christians act as a preserving agent to the world?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
Name a way in which you can act as a "preservative" in your family, your community, and in the world?
In what ways does the world desire to "spoil" what God desires? Name some examples.
What is one thing you can do today to preserve what God intended in the examples you gave?
Thoughts...
One of my favorite things to eat is fish. I absolutely love fish! I especially love the kind of fish that are fresh and right from the fish market. In western Pennsylvania we do not have the privilege of having seaside restaurants. The next best thing though, is having restaurants that ship the fresh fish straight from the fishing markets. The problem is that in shipping fish over many miles, the fish can go bad if they are not preserved properly. Thank God for salt! You see, salt acts as a preservative when shipping the fish (and many other foods) to various locations. When the salt is put on the fish it helps to keep it fresh.
We as Christians should also do the same things within our community! When Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth" He was saying that we should act as a preservative for godliness. If we look around at the world around us we can see sin everywhere -- on TV, in music, in lust, in pride, in anger, etc. . . What God desires is that we become like "salt" to our culture. When we see sin rampant in a specific area, we are quick to stand up for what is right. In your life today, how does God want you to be a preservative in your family, your workplace, or your community. Ask the Lord to give you the grace you need to be able to stand up for God's truth and be like salt to those around you.