Are You Salty?

 

While this may sound nerdy, sodium is actually a very interesting element.  It is an element that isn’t good for much by itself, so links itself to other elements.  Depending on what it joins with determines what it is good for.  It can become baking soda, borax, and many other things.  The most well known combination is table salt (Sodium and Chloride).

Matthew 5:13 says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

Jesus wants Christians to be the salt of the earth, but how are we supposed to do this?  Just like sodium, the only way we can change is by joining with something else.  In this case we must join ourselves with God’s word.  When this happens, changes will begin taking place.  We will become more kind, moral, and ethical.  We will have a sense of joy and hope.  We will want to share this great feeling and the good news about God with others.  This is the kind of “salty person” Jesus wanted us to be!

The question is, do we life our lives joined with God’s word?  Does it produce changes in us?  Does it make us excited and more evangelistic?  If not, then obviously there are other elements mixed in that are keeping us from being the “salt” Jesus called for us to be.  Let’s remove the impurities in our lives and make sure we have the right mixture of God’s word in our lives.

Tough Decisions

 

“One of the most famous trials in history was that of Benjamin Francois Courvoisier in London in 1840, who is now immortalized in Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.  Courvoisier was a Swiss valet accused of killing his elderly employer, Lord William Russell.  What made this trial notorious was the argument for the defense.  The police had bungled the investigation.  The evidence against Courvoisier was entirely circumstantial or had been planted.  One of the officers had perjured himself, and the maid's testimony brought suspicion on herself.

“The defense attorney, Charles Phillips, was convinced of the innocence of Courvoisier and cross-examined witnesses aggressively.  At the beginning of the second day of the trial, however, Courvoisier confessed privately to his lawyer that he had committed the murder.  When asked if he was going to plead guilty, he replied to Charles Phillips, ‘No, sir, I expect you to defend me to the utmost.’  Phillips was faced with a dilemma. Should he declare to the court that the man was guilty, or should he defend Courvoisier as best he could?  Should he break the confidentiality of the client-lawyer relationship, or should he help a guilty man to possibly go free?  Which is more important -- truth or professional duty?” (Klyne Snodgrass, Between Two Truths - Living with Biblical Tensions, p. 11-12).

Before I reveal what the lawyer chose, what would you have done in this situation?  Would you be loyal to your profession and the guilty man, or turn him over?  As it turns out, Charles Phillips decided to defend the man.  Despite his efforts, the man was convicted.  However, when this decision became public, Charles Phillips was heavily criticized for his decision.

While this may not have been a tough decision for some, people are often faced with difficult decisions.   Consider the following: Can I be saved, and if so, how?  Which church is the right one?  Can I and should I fix my marriage?  Should I date this person?  Who should I be friends with?  Should I continue to watch this TV show or movie?  Do I need to stop doing something I enjoy?

All the answers to questions like these can be found in Scripture.  The Bible is more than just a good book, it is the ultimate instruction book specifically given by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  It gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 3:9).  There is simply no greater way to improve life than through Scripture.  We just need to take the time to read and study its divine contents.

P.S.  If you have been looking for some of the answers to the above questions, or others, please don’t hesitate to ask.  We can help show you what answers God’s Word gives.

Emergency Contact Numbers

If any of the follow situations are happening in your life, please dial the appropriate numbers.

If you are unsure that God loves you, DIAL: John 3:16.

If you need faith, DIAL: Hebrews 11

If you need comfort, DIAL: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

If you are worried, DIAL: Mathew 6:25-34

If you feel depressed, DIAL: 1 Peter 5:6-7

If you hear gossip, DIAL: Proverbs 26:22-25

If you feel overwhelmed by some force, DIAL: 1 John 4:4

If you are unsure about your current friends, DIAL: 1 Corinthians 15:33

If you love worldly things in life, DIAL: 1 John 2:15

If you love money, DIAL: 1 Timothy 6:10.

If you are focused on succeeding in this life, DIAL: Matthew 16:26

If you want to be fruitful in life, DIAL: John 15:1-11

If you want advice with your investments, DIAL: Matthew 6:19-21.

If you aren’t sure about participating in something, DIAL: Philippians 4:8           

If you are experiencing sorrow or pain, DIAL: Revelation 21:4

If you are being persecuting, DIAL: Matthew 5:10-12

If you are being tempted to sin, DIAL: 1 Corinthians 10:13

If you have sinned, DIAL: 1 John 1:9

If you feel you can’t be forgiven and saved, DIAL: Isaiah 59:1-2.

If you are in trouble and need to be saved, DIAL: 1 Peter 3:21

All numbers can be dialed directly.  If you need to speak with someone directly, please bow your head in prayer now.  God is standing by.

(Idea was inspired by an article by an unknown writer)