“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for fertilizer. It is thrown away . . . ” Luke 14:34-35, NLT
When I read this, it struck me that I didn’t understand why salt would ever be good for the soil. I am obviously NOT a farmer. (Remind me to tell you about my $200 tomato.)
So I googled “salt in soil” and learned what Jesus obviously knew. (Without Google, I might add. Jesus is way beyond Google.) Here’s what I learned about salt and the soil:
Salt is essential to all of life. Plants use salt for food, and either too much or too little salt can be harmful. The kind of salt used in soil is important because some salts are more effective than others. Common table salt is the wrong kind of salt for fertilizer. Its sodium content can actually destroy soil structure and clog the flow of water in the soil.
In His teaching, Christ said that disciples are “the salt of the earth.” If I take what I learned about salt and apply it to discipleship, I learn:
Following Christ is essential to my life. As essential as food.
Like salt, too much or too little discipleship can be harmful. Too much discipleship is when a disciple is heavy-handed (oppressive or insensitive), legalistic, or fanatical. Too little is harmful when non-believers see disciples not acting Christ-like and think we are hypocrites.
The church cannot grow without disciples “in the soil.” To me, being in the soil means being among believers and non-believers. Non-believers come to Christ only through the work of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit may choose to use a disciple to speak into a non-believer’s heart.
The kind of disciple I am is important. Being just a common table salt adds seasoning but is totally ineffective for growth.
How can I be the type of disciple that doesn’t just sprinkle seasoning but provides for spiritual growth in myself, my family, and others?
Thank you, God, for this lesson in salt. Don’t let me be a common disciple. I crave the kind of salt that facilitates growth – in myself and in others. Let me be that kind of salt. Amen.
Shared by Cindy Cantrell
Women@CF Blog 