Salted with fire

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭49‬-‭50

“Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭49‬-‭50‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I like cooking. I like creating, and by trial and error, enjoying to varying degrees the results of my cooking attempts. I am learning: salt and seasoning are the secret to tasty food.

Jesus reminds all of us who are His followers that we are the seasoning for a world longing to satisfy their soul’s hunger pains. He says clearly, You are the salt of the earth. Not you will become, or you must be but you are.

A life of love sprinkled like salt on the faith of a hungry life brings out sweet and savory flavors, so they can taste and see that the Lord is good. But Jesus warns us we can lose our saltiness. No amount of rice can save salt that never leaves the shaker. Eventually unused salt becomes useless, but scattered salt grows influence for God. 

Jesus wants us to be people of Godly character, the term qualities of salt in these verses refers to people who are holy, righteous, pure, and redemptive in a world that is none of those things.

Jesus wants us to live in peace with each other in our local congregations as well as with other believers even if we do not recognize them as being in our group.

Two clear commands, to be at peace and to have a godly influence on those around us are made without equivocation. Obedience to these two important commands is needed so very much in the divided and worldly surroundings in which believers in Jesus now find themselves.

When we are brought together, love teaches us to overlook one another’s faults, for we all have many faults, we all have a thousand quirks we would like our friends and loved ones to overlook and to dismiss out of affection.

Those things that can’t be overlooked should be forgiven, for we need to understand that each of us is made by God in a different way. One man might talk without stopping, and another man might need plenty of quiet time to form his thoughts, but the two can still be friends.

When we are kept apart, love teaches us to long for one another, to yearn for one another’s company. We appreciate each other so much more when we cannot see our friends.

Be glad that the Lord God has salted you with faith and fellowship in Him, to preserve you for everlasting life. In the meantime, show your love for your Savior by loving His people.

Yes, allowing ourselves to be salted with fire is a source of peace for us. And while we may resist the pain of fire and salt, just as with any stinging medicine we must learn that although it is painful it is good for us. Yes, it brings peace, it ushers in shalom.

Having been salted we will, strive for unity, care for each other, join together productively, lead and love our families, rejoice and sympathize together, be salty, personally and in this world.

Let’s realize that the Lord’s instructions to his disciples here, and his instructions to the church and Christians today to have peace, is intended for a magnificent and great purpose and that is so that many others would get salted and be salty too.

Have salt, have peace, so that the Kingdom may advance and Christ may be exalted and God may be seen as glorious!!!

Father thank You for this day and for Your life changing Word, for in we live, we move, and we have our being. Lord let the storehouses of your abundance pour out over my friend and family today. Lord please help us exemplify the desires Jesus has for us. Lord we want to be holy and redemptive as we live before our neighbors, and we want to be at peace with those who share faith in You as Lord. Lord sec ask for Your help in being fully obedient to You in these matters. Lord use my friend and I to be salted with fire and help others find You today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya