I HUNGER AND THIRST FOR YOU

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."  

Matthew 5:6

Can we actually control what we want? Can we change what we hunger and thirst for? Of course, we can. Is that not the key to successfully changing our diet?  We must learn to delight in what is good for our souls.   I invite you to consider the words of Jesus in the beatitude in Matthew 5:6.

With these few words in Matthew 5:6, Jesus presents an essential beatitude that applies to unbelievers and Christians.  We must hunger and thirst for righteousness to be led to the only fountain of life that grants us God's spiritual blessings.  The saddest part is that we cannot force anyone to drink the water of life if he is not willing to partake of the fountain of the Word of God.  At the same time, we cannot open their appetite for spiritual things (righteousness) if they refuse to partake.  Ultimately, our choices will inevitably bear the consequences of those choices.

The most important path to travel is the "narrow path" that leads to righteousness.  The wise choose to travel down that path of righteousness to be acceptable before God.  They live according to the Word of God, the fountain of life. That path leads them to purity, love, knowledge, and discernment as they seek what is excellent.  Their life is filled with the fruits of righteousness (Phil. 1:11).  Others can see the glory of their Father reflected in their good works as they walk the path of righteousness.  Their good works light up the world and praise their Creator.  To hunger and thirst for righteousness is an attitude, a frame of mind that acknowledges God's Word is righteousness.

"Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness."  (Psalm 119:172)

God's Word is the spiritual food vital for one to grow stronger to salvation (1 Peter 2:2; Matt. 4:4).  Who doesn't get hungry and thirsty physically?  Well, those who are sick or dead!  The same is true of us spiritually.  If one does not desire to grow spiritually and feed on the Word of God daily, he must be spiritually sick or dead.  Our souls must thirst for God and His righteousness as the deer pants for water (Psalm 42:1-2).  When one yearns to be filled with true, lasting joy, he must seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness above everything (Matt. 6:33).  Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness as your chief goal?

I.   HUNGER AND THIRST:

We all know the concept of hunger.  Hunger can affect the entire body, for when one allows hunger to stay for a long time, he starts to experience headaches and dizziness.  Our bodies start screaming with pain and yearning for food.  The same can be said of thirst.  When we're thirsty, we find it hard to focus.  Our minds are preoccupied with the extreme need for water to quench our thirst.  There is nothing more refreshing than a glass of cold water when one is really thirsty.  Nothing is better than a drink of cold water after working hard in the sun.  When hunger and thirst strike, we stop everything to quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger.  

When Jesus spoke of hungering and thirsting, He implied a deep craving, a yearning, and a passionate pursuit.  To hunger is more than just being hungry.  You are famished, and hunger is your focus.  To thirst is more than just being thirsty.  You are parched, so much that your concentration and desire is to avoid death.  The metaphor of hunger and thirst is often found in the Bible. In Psalm 63:1, David said, 

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,  as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

  I love this Psalm!

As one meditates on these words, he clearly sees that hunger and thirst are for the things of God. David sought God earnestly, not just casually.  His soul earnestly thirsted for God alone.  His flesh fainted for God.  Can you see his passion?  Can you capture the yearning that dripped from David's words?  Jesus wants His followers, those who belong to His kingdom, to hunger and thirst for Him and the righteous life He commands.

Jesus says, 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."

  

The world says blessed are those who hunger for material success, power, control, to climb the corporate ladder, the satisfaction of worldly pursuits, and the praises of men.  However, God's " foolishness " is greater than men's wisdom (1 Cor. 1:18-25).

Water is vital to all living things, and that includes human beings.  It is critical to our health. Water covers 71% of the earth.  Without it, no man can survive.  We can survive without food for a reasonable amount of time, but not without water.  

Pure water is essential to our health.  We need clean, pure water to stay healthy because contaminated water can sicken our whole body.  Hunger, on the other hand, is the yearning for food.  When one is hungry, he will do nearly anything to satisfy that longing. His life depends on it.  Hunger strongly motivates us to feed ourselves to alleviate our painful sensations.  Hunger can cause weakness, lack of focus, and irritability.  It is powerful!

Our hunger and thirst for God must be as intense as biological hunger. This hunger and thirst for God produce in us a passion to seek Him and His righteousness.  It reveals the authenticity of a true believer and follower of our Lord.

Listen to what David said about thirsting for God's righteousness:

As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So my soul pants for You, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;

When shall I come and appear before God?  (Psalm 42:1-2)

Our Lord and Savior is pure and uncontaminated water to us.  Our souls cannot survive without Jesus giving us the living water that springs up unto eternal life.  Notice what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well, 

"Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life"  (John 4:14-15).

• Jesus is our only Truth.  His Truth sets us free from the slavery of sin.  

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."  (John 8:32)  

Jesus sets us free from the contaminated water of sin, which we constantly drink in the kingdom of darkness to serve the appetite of our flesh.  Only Jesus can satisfy that hunger for righteousness.  We must drink and thirst for pure water to find freedom and seek righteousness.  We must stop drawing water from the wrong well.  Jesus is our well of righteousness.  He is our fountain of living water.  We must keep running to it with intense hunger and thirst.  Jesus is also our manna from heaven.  He is our Bread of life that was bruised and broken for the salvation of our souls.  

I Hunger and Thirst for You

I hunger and thirst for You. 

I hunger and thirst for You. 

In the desert of my need 

You're the fountain that I seek. 

You're the Living Water I keep running to 

I hunger and thirst for You.

I hunger and thirst for you. 

In the desert of my need, 

You are the fountain that I see.  

You are the living water I keep running to.  

Heaven’s manna, Bread of life.  

Fill the emptiness inside.  

Nothing else can satisfy me like you do.

My heart hungers and thirsts for His Law:  the principles that lead me to the path of righteousness.  I hunger and thirst for more learning and more knowledge.  Only God's Law can satisfy my hungry and thirsty soul.  Oh, how I love thy Law!

We must yearn to be fed by Him until we die to self.  He is the only one who can regenerate our minds and souls, but we must always hunger and thirst for Him and His righteousness.  There is no other way to reverence His Lordship in His kingdom.  Paul wrote toward the end of his life:

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death"  (Philippians 3:7-10).

But didn't Paul know Jesus already?

Consider the following statements about hunger:  

• Hunger is a symptom of immediate need:  

When we are hungry, our brain immediately sends messages to our bodies, telling us that we need to satisfy that sensation called hunger.  It is then that we must eat.  In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, in the Beatitudes, He said: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."  In other words, the blessed are not those who think they are righteous but humbly admit they lack and are in desperate need of His righteousness.   Those who wish to be more like Him.  Those who sincerely see they have a long journey to be walked in righteousness.  If that is you, our Lord and Savior says you are blessed.  You shall be satisfied!

• Hunger is a sign of hope:

Jesus implies that even sinners can hunger and thirst for righteousness. It is a sign of hope for those dead because of sin. Sinners must hunger and thirst for what Jesus offers.

• Hunger is a sign of health for the child of God:  

A good appetite is a sign that a person is physically well.  There is danger when we lose our appetite.  It is a signal that something is wrong with us. Now let us apply this to our spiritual life and walk with Christ.  When we yearn to grow in Christ, "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ," it is a good sign of spiritual health.  This is one of the marks of authenticity of a faithful follower of Christ.

Sadly, many incline their yearning toward other addictions, such as social media, entertainment, video games, shopping, pop culture, self-image, materialism, and bad relationships to fill them.  They are drinking from the wrong wells that can never satisfy their thirst.  They keep returning to the same contaminated waters over and over.  

Are we looking for the wrong kind of satisfaction? Is this what we want and seek as faithful followers of Christ?  Are we hungering and thirsting for God's righteousness?  Do we want to be blessed and be satisfied in Him?  Are we walking in a manner worthy of our calling, the vocation of Christ?

"And He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."  (2 Corinthians 5:15) 

"And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."   (I Peter 2:24) 

 We must pursue holiness and righteousness because He is Holy.

• Jesus is our only Living Water. Let us drink His water and seek Him diligently.  

We find peace and rest in Jesus for our thirsty and dying souls.  Jesus' living water fills us and satisfies us.  This is the only way to avoid polluted water and quench our thirst with pure water. As we yearn for this Living Water, our souls will no longer accept the sources of impure water.

 "And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."  (Isaiah 58:11)

We must not deceive ourselves into thinking that we can drink Jesus’ living water and, at the same time, continue drinking the polluted and contaminated water of unrighteousness.  You cannot serve two masters.  We must get rid of the old leaven.  We must crucify self and dispose of the old man, the dirty water that once contaminated us, the weight of our sin.  Contaminated water and clean water are not by any means compatible.  Mixing both will result in the pollution of clean water. 

"For My people have committed two evils:  They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water."  (Jeremiah 2:13)

• Similarly, if we walk according to our flesh, we will not hunger after righteousness. We are not seeking or following Jesus, our Living Water, and Manna, our Bread of Life.   

We must purpose in our heart, mind, and soul to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness above everything else (Matthew 6:33). The more we are filled with the Living Water and the Bread of life, the more we hunger and thirst for Him.  This is the blessedness of our walk with Christ.  We will be satisfied with righteousness when we hunger and thirst for Him.  He will not let us die of hunger and thirst.  This is a great promise.

"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, 'Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"  (I Corinthians 1:30)  

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"  (John 7:38)  

II.   SO, WHAT IS "FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS"?

Righteousness is used in a few different ways in the Scriptures.  When we read Paul's writings, righteousness refers to justification.  Paul often wrote about God making us righteous through the cross of Christ since we were not righteous before God.  Justification is a word that is usually used to describe this.  So, is Jesus implying that the kingdom of heaven belongs only to those who desire to be justified by God?  Although this is true, the word righteousness used in Matthew was never used the way Paul used it.  To understand how Matthew used the word righteousness, we must grasp the meaning of the word.  Let us examine further the Sermon on the Mount.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  (Matt. 5:10)

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."  (Matt. 6:1) 

In these two passages, Matthew is not using the word righteousness to express God justifying or declaring us righteous.  Instead, Matthew used the word "righteousness" regarding the personal practice of godly righteousness by doing the will of God, desiring to do what is right in the sight of God.  God's faithful followers passionately want to do His will and seek earnestly to keep God's commands. Conforming to God's will is their supreme desire. To them, God's laws and ways are spiritual necessities to be desired, just as food and drink are needed to continue living.  

The character of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness is godly living and a relationship with God.  A starving person longs for food, and a parched tongue longs to quench his thirst with drops of water.  God's faithful children are desperate for the things of God.  They desire to be right with God all the time.

Sadly, many Christians do not care about living in righteousness and holiness.  Indeed, right, godly, and holy living is insignificant these days.  Many claim to be Christians and serve the Lord but their desires are placed on everything else but God.  Their desire for God is merely a mild curiosity rather than a burning passion or raging hunger.  Jesus is not calling for a mild hunger or thirst but a strong desire for food and water rather than an apathetic inclination toward righteousness.  It is a sign of spiritual sickness and death.  Consider the things that can hinder a strong desire for God's righteousness:

• Laziness:  Satan has convinced many to justify their laziness.  The lazy do not want to read the Bible, attend all worship assemblies, and pray, for they say, "God knows I'm tired."  They forget that Jesus stressed the importance of praying lest we fall into temptation (Luke 22:40, 46). Take heed! Tiredness is not an excuse for neglecting the things of God.
• Abundance:  Surely, material possessions cause us to be complacent.  It can deceive us into not needing God (Dan. 4:28-33).  
• Family:  This can hinder our strong desire for righteousness because of the demands of providing for our family, the responsibility of raising children, and the time spent with them.  I don't deny that all these are necessary as well as important.  

• But are we setting righteous standards of living for our family?  
• Are we forsaking the righteous things of God so that we may have more comforts?  
• Are we storing earthly treasures for ourselves rather than heavenly ones (Matt. 6:19-21)?  
• Is raising our children hindering our obedience to the righteous things of God?  
• Are we busying ourselves too much in extracurricular activities such as sports?  
• Have we failed to stress the importance of righteousness in our children's lives as future leaders of the Lord's church?  
• Are we spending so much time in family-oriented activities that we neglect the cultivation of Christ's mind and the righteousness of God?  
• Are we focused more on the things of this world than on the things of God?  

Whatever your answer, examine your heart and don't jeopardize your hunger and theirs for righteousness.

CONCLUSION:

In John 4:10, Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well,

"If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness accept the gift of God that Jesus offers.  Righteous and holy living is as essential to them as food and water are.  These are the ones who can never get enough of the riches of God's Word to be satisfied.  Their relationship with God is like eating rich food (Isaiah 55:1-2).  

Our culture's satisfaction is found in carnal pursuits and goals: bodybuilding, weight loss, group therapy to heal the social ills, and the empty-headed vain fashions that absorb our times. They promise to offer what will truly satisfy their worldly and fleshly desires.  Everyone yearns to be satisfied with the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Sin fills their hunger and thirst.  They desire lesser things.  

Jeremiah, the prophet, described this thought in Jeremiah 2.  The people of his time are described as having broken cisterns that do not hold water.  Fools reject what God offers them:  flowing, clean, pure water.  Yet, they're eager to drink the old, stale, contaminated water.  They deceive themselves thinking that they will still be satisfied with such contaminated water, for they would rather reject the pure and uncontaminated water of righteousness, holiness, and godliness.  Indeed, worldly satisfaction can only come through such a decaying way of living.  Those who love righteousness, because they hunger and thirst for it, understand what Jesus said to them,

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."  (John 6:35)

The more we hunger and thirst for the righteous things of God, the more we will be satisfied.  The more we are dissatisfied with other carnal substitutes, the more we will hunger for God and His kingdom of righteousness.  The path of righteousness destroys self-righteousness because self-righteousness will bankrupt our spirit and cover up our need for repentance.  Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts so we might hunger and thirst for salvation.  Salvation is for those who sincerely and genuinely want it.  Our spiritual bankruptcy must compel us to mourn over our sins and desire salvation, restoration, reconciliation, and righteousness.  

Only those who sincerely hunger and thirst for God will conform to the will of their Father in heaven.  Jesus is standing at the door, calling for true fanatics who would eat and drink from Him and His kingdom of righteousness.  Jesus does not want us to substitute Himself for worldly pursuits. He is not our hobby or pastime!  Those who are hungry and thirsty don't want merely a substitute either. They want something of the divine nature. They want to passionately pursue Jesus' food and water.  They want to be consumed by Jesus because they long for His ways and leadership while they walk His path of righteousness here on earth.

If you have lost your hunger and thirst for Jesus, it is time for you to turn back to Him and repent (Rev. 2:1-7) and make an intense effort to return to Him with zeal.  Remember where you came from and who you were.  Get back on your knees in prayer, Bible reading and study, and dedication and devotion to the cause of Christ and His church that He purchased with His own blood.  In doing all this, you can rest assured you will have the right communion or relationship with your Father in heaven. 

Righteousness can only be accomplished through strenuous effort, for nothing worthwhile comes easily.  Bible knowledge comes through rigorous study.  Answered prayers come through fervent prayer.  Remember that righteousness comes through hungering and thirsting after it.  

Thus, it is vital for righteousness' sake to cut out all evil influences that seek to separate us from our Lord and our crown of righteousness.  Don't allow Satan to distract you in your path of righteousness.  Read Hebrews 12 and set your priorities correctly.  Those with the right disposition to seek, search, and grope after the righteousness of God will be filled and satisfied (Matt. 6:25-33; Acts 17:26-28; James. 1:12; Rev. 2:10).

May the yearning in our hearts and soul find the only source of eternal life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May we be renewed in Him by drinking the fountain of Living Water, the One and Only source of eternal life. May we hunger and thirst for Him, our Manna and Living Water, to be blessed and satisfied with His righteousness.

 "Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."  (Revelation 22:1)

Luci

SALTY CHRISTIANS

"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."  

Matthew 5:13

Most of us know someone who is on a salt-free or low-salt diet under doctor's orders. In some cases, they can add a little more hot sauce or pepper to make up for the loss of taste, but we all know when food lacks salt because it is hardly worth eating. People are sometimes like that... bland. It is usually a sign that they lack the faith and courage to speak up and defend what they believe in or do the right thing when most people will not.

Jesus made a special point of using the symbolism of salt to show us the nature of our example and teaching before a watching world. Let us meditate on saltiness.

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls His disciples "the salt of the earth," metaphorically. Indeed, this is a great compliment that Jesus is paying His followers.  To be as "the salt of the earth" expresses the vital importance they have in God's plans and purposes.  We are as important as salt is to this earth.  Salt is so essential to human life that without it, our bodies cannot function.  Salt provides balance to the earth.  Without salt in the world and in the oceans, we would all die.  God grants this honor (to be the salt of the earth) only to those who follow Him, His disciples.

Just as salt is necessary to make our food taste good, it is indispensable to our Christians' lives.  The saltiness of doing the will of Jesus gives our lives flavor and the quality of life that makes us acceptable to Christ.  To understand Jesus' concept of salt, we must be aware of the many qualities salt possesses.  Consider the excellent qualities or properties that salt can offer in our lives to reflect a life worthy of Christ, which is vital for the preservation of our faith.

• Salt is of Great Value:  

In Jesus' time and throughout history, salt has been a very valuable product.  Salt has moved the course of history on many occasions.  It has controlled economies and generated taxes.  It has moved men to create monopolies and even to fight wars.  Salt has been used as a currency of exchange. Many Arab merchants traded salt for gold.  The word "salary" from the Latin word "salarium" originally denoted a Roman soldier's allowance to buy salt from sal ‘salt.’  Salt was as valuable as the salary of a Roman soldier.

• Salt Adds Zest And Flavor:  

Salt is a flavoring agent.  It improves the taste of bland food.  Any food that lacks salt is tasteless, plain, and even unpleasant.  Job said, "Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?"  Obviously NOT!  We must understand that our faithfulness to Christ, our salt, is what gives flavor to life.  The saltiness of Christians even gives flavor to the lives of those who are not Christians.  Those who are not Christians are observing how we conduct and live our lives as Christians.  If we live godly and righteous lives and our faith is real, they will want a similar path.  It should cause them to want to become Christians.  

"To be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age."  (Titus 2:9-12)  

When Jesus said, "you are the salt of the earth," He implied that flavor was found in the salt and not on the earth.  Truly, this earth without salt is tasteless, insipid, and unsavory.  Thus, our godly influence is the only thing that will give flavor and meaning to this dying world of darkness.  Our influence is very important to God and to this world.  As Christians, we must be to the world what salt is to food.  Salt turns a tasteless meal into a tasty and flavorful one.  If the world does not see Christ reflected in us, they will not see Him anywhere.  There is no other salt on earth but Christians, Jesus' followers.  There is no substitute for salt.  Each Christian must be like grains of salt, scattered throughout this world of darkness to give and intensify flavor and be acceptable and pleasing to God.  There is a significant difference between food that has no salt and food that has salt. Likewise, our lives must make a difference everywhere:  in our homes, our families, our friends, our teachers, and in the church.  Our faithfulness and righteousness, our godly conduct, our good conscience, and our speech must be the salt that will impact the lives of others around us.  We must be the salt in all of our conversations with others (Col. 4:6).  How? By letting "our  speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."  We must be salt when reproving, rebuking, exhorting, and instructing one another.

We must be salt in our attitudes and conduct toward others.  We must stress the need for godly behavior, godly example, godly influence, manifesting the fruits of the Spirit in our daily living.  A genuine follower of Christ does not show hatred or bitterness but rather love and joy; he does not show an anxious and hopeless heart but a heart of peace and longsuffering.  He does not show malice and unbelief but kindness, goodness, and faith.

We must be the salt of the earth by the way we cover our bodies.  We must cover our bodies modestly and discreetly (1 Tim. 2:9).  In our worldly culture, we are ruled by indecent, sensual, and provocative fashions, like the attire of a harlot.  As Children of God, we must fight against the current of ungodly fashion.  We must clothe ourselves in a godly and chaste manner.  We teach others by our godly example, by dressing the way God wants us to.  We must be different!  They must know that we, the church, are the salt of the earth by the way we cover our bodies with modesty and godliness.  It is the only way we can point others to Christ!

We, Christians, must show godliness.  Others must perceive our godliness as being lived out in our lives.  Our godly example portrays Christ living in us and will direct others to Him.  This is how they'll know we are clothed with Christ.  It is the only WAY our Christianity is enhanced or intensified by our salt.  In other words, this is how we show salt in ourselves and glorify our Creator.  How is this done? 

1. By letting our light shine before men.  
2. By showing our good works of righteousness.  
3. By showing God's Ways to others responding in love, with a heart that desires to please and glorify God rather than self.

One of the greatest dangers to the Lord's church today is the danger that we become tasteless or insipid. You see, salt adds enthusiasm and zeal to our Christian life. That is to say, that we, the church, run the risk of losing our enthusiasm, zeal, and interest, becoming dull, wishy-washy, anemic, weak, and lifeless.  The church may stand for nothing!  She may lose her love for the Truth and her willingness to contend earnestly for it.  She may compromise everything!  She may indulge sinners within her, neglecting to correct what is crooked:  the sinful life.

Jesus expressed His fear that the “cause of Christ” might be committed to those who would lose the salty flavor that must characterize His Way of life. Sadly, those who stand for nothing and compromise everything will fall for anything.

"As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."  (Ephesians 4:14-16)

If we are indeed His followers, we have no business being bored and ineffective.  On the contrary, we must be zealous, enthusiastic, energetic, and eager.  We must have a passion for Christ and show it.  Let us learn from our first-century brethren who were not insipid or tasteless, lacking flavor and zest.  Their love for Christ, the Gospel, and His church was so fervent that they were even willing to die for it in the midst of tremendous opposition.  

"Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).  When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,  saying, 'We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.'  But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men'"  (Acts 5:26-29).  

Their zeal compels me to want to be a better Christian for Christ and His cause!  They had filled all Jerusalem with His doctrine.

"But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, 'These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.'  They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.  And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.'"  (Acts 17:5-9) 

Without a doubt, they turned the world upside down with the Gospel.  The Lord's church began with the two-edged Sword of the Spirit. They did not hesitate to use that Truth to cut to the heart of those who lived in sin or error.  They still proclaimed the Good News.  They preached repentance, salvation, and damnation.  They did not waiver or compromise the Truth about sin.  They brought the hope of salvation to a dying world lost in darkness because of sin.  They confronted sin and offered the cure.  My question is then, don't you think that what was good for them back then is good for us today?

• Salt Increases Thirst:  

It is also true that salt generates thirst.  When we consume foods that are rich in sodium, our bodies will crave fluids all day.  It increases our thirst.  It gives us a strong desire to "take the water of life without cost"  (Revelation 22:17).  Remember Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman at the well when He asked her to give Him a drink.

"Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  (John 4:13-14)  

Also, notice what Jesus told the Pharisees at the feast of booths, 

"Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."'  

We must have an intense desire to thirst for Christ if indeed we are salt ourselves.

• Salt Has Strength:  

Salt has the power to destroy certain microorganisms, such as bacteria.  It can stop the growth of weeds and grasses.  It can also kill certain insects.  By the same token, the salt in Christians can kill all of the ungodly, lawless works of the flesh and all forms of evil.   

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."  (Galatians 2:20)  

"For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live."  (Romans 8:13)  

The power in our lives to kill the flesh and live in newness of life rests in the Gospel, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..."  (Romans 1:16).  If we indeed claim to be His disciples, we will surely abide in His Words.  We will feed and digest His Words.  We will live and walk in His Word.  

"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.'"  (John 8:31)  

It is only through the Word that we can be built up and be given strength.

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."  (Acts 20:32)

 Apart from the Word of God, we will lose our strength rendering us weak and unable to withstand sin.  

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."  (Psalm 119:11)

• Salt Preserves or Saves:  

When salt is added to any kind of fresh meat, it acts as a preservative agent.  It delays the decay process.  There is nothing worse than decomposed meat.  It is disgusting!  The practice of salting meats to preserve them has been used for ages.  Notice that when Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, many of His listeners were familiar with fish.  They were in the fishing business.  They were well aware of the qualities of salt and how it was used to cure and preserve their fish.  This made it easier for them to understand the effects of the salty way of living.  They were to have a preserving, saving influence on those among whom they walked.  Before the invention of refrigeration, salt was the only thing people had to preserve and save things.  Salt was crucial for preserving.

When men abandon salt in their lives, they start walking in sin, in the works of the flesh.  The earth is corrupted.  Sin begins to take control of their lives.  Truth has very little influence on their lives. They are seared in their conscience toward sin and the works of lawlessness.  Sin starts to rot the soul, and the hope of salvation is lost.

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."  (Galatians 5:19-21)  

We know that the earth can decay, corrupt, and rot if we, as salt, don't prevent it.  It is easy to see such decay in all moral values (crimes, dishonesty, insecurity, lack of integrity, immorality, indecency, lack of interest in principles of righteousness).  Our world is decaying little by little.  And though the world has advanced significantly in technology, science, reforms,  medicine, and knowledge, they still cannot stop the deterioration and corruption in our society.  Thus, the only hope for this world of darkness is the salt of the earth, that is, those sincere and genuine Christians or followers of Christ.  Faithful Christians are the means that God uses to stop the forces of evil.  We Christians are here to stop all lawlessness and corruption and to hold back or prevent all decadence in our society.  How?  By our godly influence and example.  As Christians, we must prove ourselves to be blameless, pure, and above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we appear as lights in this world.  Thus, our godly conduct and the Word of God are what make us the salt of the earth.

To be genuine Christians, we must escape the corruption of this world (2 Peter 1:4).  We must be godly examples so that others might escape the lawlessness that causes that corruption.  It is therefore vital to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."  Unfortunately, many pretend to be salt but preach a different Gospel, a false doctrine or teaching that is not Christ's.  A corrupt Gospel does not save anyone from all lawlessness or corruption.  Therefore, it is crucial to preach true and sound doctrine to preserve and save the souls that have been corrupted because of sin and false doctrine.

It is also vital to demonstrate with our good and righteous works the faith that we profess, that we might not deny Him (Titus 1:16). Take heed! Those who are disobedient and unfit for any good work can never be the salt of the earth.

• Salt Has a Destructive Power:

The kind of salt used in Bible times was not of the same quality as the refined salt we consume today. It was common back then for salt to lose its properties.  In Luke 14:34-35, Jesus declared, "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Using a little bit can melt ice, but using a lot can ruin things.  Too much salt can also harm or kill living organisms like grass, garden slugs. You see, salt in moderate quantities was useful for the soil as a fertilizer.  But when salt faded, it was harmful to the soil as a fertilizer instead of useful. It was difficult, if not impossible, to grow vegetables.  The phrase, "It is no longer good" in Matthew 5:13, implies that it was useful and valuable, but now it is no good anymore.  I think one of the things that can disturb or provoke anyone is to tell him, "you're useless" or "you're good for nothing."  Spiritually speaking, if we are not the salt of this earth, in this life, "we are good for nothing" but to be trampled underfoot by men.

According to the dictionary, the manure pile (dunghill) is where the excrement is deposited. Salt fights against filth and uncleanliness (impurity, dirt).  But notice that salt was of no use and good for nothing when it lost its properties.  I honestly believe that these words should prick our hearts. Therefore, let us examine our hearts to see if we are behaving like the salt of the earth or are good for nothing.  Take heed and meditate on this!

One striving to follow Jesus will make this world a better place in the same way that salt helps and gives flavor to food.  In Acts 2:47, the disciples were described as "praising God and adding favor with all the people."  Surely, they added something valuable and good to society.  Salt is a powerful flavoring agent.

Indeed, salt can lose its flavor.  Why?   Because salt can become contaminated with impurities, like dirt.  Jesus is warning Christians about losing what makes them valuable before God as "salt." If he is not careful to separate himself from the harmful impurities of sin, a Christian runs the risk of becoming contaminated.  Thus, "he is good for nothing" in his service to the Lord unless he comes back to Him seeking forgiveness on God's terms.  Christians must be pure in speech, thoughts, and deeds (Col. 4:6).  In doing this, they will have a preserving influence on godliness and righteousness as salt preserves food and prevents it from spoiling.  Like salt, each Christian must strive to remove or melt any hindrances that would cause others to stumble.  However, like salt, he may irritate some people.  (You know how irritating salty sweat can be when working in the sun).  Why?  Because so often, when one stands up for Christ and lives for Him only, others will be irritated or rubbed the wrong way, though this is not his purpose.  Moreover, like salt, followers of the Lord have the power to destroy that which is sinful whenever they confront it.  We must eradicate all sin from our lives and fight all forms of evil.  A faithful Christian should cause others to thirst for righteousness as salt causes physical thirst (Matt. 5:6).

To be salt, we Christians must be different (distinct) from the people of the world and reflect Christ in everything we do and say. We may have great knowledge of the Scriptures, but our knowledge is useless if we show a false worldly image in our behavior. We are no different than the ungodly. We are hypocrites and can never be the salt of the earth. God will bring His wrath on us just like on them. Take heed!

It is sad to see a Christian dress like the ungodly world, party and revel like the world, and show all the outward evidence that the world still influences him. It should be the other way around. We should be the light of the world, the salty influence that shows the world a better way to live. My beloved brethren, it is deplorable for a Christian to become a stumbling block and a cause of sin and death instead of being the salt of the earth that preserves life!! Jesus wants us to be a good and positive influence on the world and thus the preserving salt.

 A Christian who walks like the worldly and ungodly is not walking in righteousness but in darkness and lawlessness. Instead of being salty, being different, provoking others to do good, and having a significant impact on their hearts, he behaves worse than the world. His ungodly conduct actually causes others to sin, people who may not even know God yet. 

The Christian knows better, and that makes it worse. Instead of opposing the works of darkness and lawlessness, he participates as if he has no conscience of sin. He has forgotten that “salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.  And 'if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown and trampled underfoot by the men.'"  Take heed to the words of Christ!

CONCLUSION:

Salt is mostly good for two things:  to enhance flavor and for food preservation.  Jesus wants His followers to be  “the salt of the earth.”  That means we must make this world flavorful for God and thus preserve it. Salt has preserving power.  Jesus, our Lord, demands that we be to people what salt is to foods.  Why?  Because we are the saving and preserving force or power to this world.  The world is lost in sin.  Therefore, we must carry the Gospel (the saving force or power) to them.  Without the righteousness and holiness of God, this world is doomed (Psalm 9:17; Prov. 14:34; Amos 9:8).  You see, God spared the ancient world of righteous Noah and his family.  God could have spared Sodom and Gomorrah for only ten righteous people.  Thus, it is vital to have close contact with the salt and the meat.  You see, salt that is away just a few inches from meat would do no good.  We must not isolate ourselves from the lost but rather be a godly influence on them so that we may teach them the paths of righteousness to be saved.

What the world (darkness) needs is salt, pure salt.  To be the pure salt of the earth, we must be Christians who sincerely and faithfully live for the Lord, doing His will.  Christians who steadfastly stand for the Truth and righteousness, being themselves good examples, being concerned about their influence and teaching, always doing their very best so that they might be the salt of the earth.  Sadly, many Christians have lost their saltiness or flavor because they have been polluted, contaminated, and stained by the flesh, this world (James 1:26-27; Jude 22-23).  Likewise, Christians can lose their saltiness or flavor by becoming lukewarm, watered down, wanting to partake of the fruits of darkness without rebuking them, not zealous for the Lord.  Lukewarmness can rob us of our saltiness or flavor.

Therefore, let us always remember that for salt to be effective, we must come in contact with the Truth, abide in it, feed on it, and digest it.  This is the only way we are going to preserve our lives and receive salvation.  We must take advantage of salt to have its effect on us.  It will be of no use to us if we do not use it well.  It will eventually be thrown away.

In Mark 9:50, Jesus said,

"For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

In this passage, the word "fire" makes reference to hell.  The phrase "salted with fire" is used literally in this text.  In the Bible, salt is a symbol to describe that which is preserved from decay. Thus, if one is salted with fire, then he is preserved with fire from absolute decay (i.e., he is eternally kept in a state of severe pain with no end whatsoever).  Here in this Scripture, Jesus is stressing the truth about punishment in hell for all eternity.  There will be no annihilation!  In this context, the word "everyone" is assigned to those who refused to "cut off" the offending part.

In Leviticus 2:13, we read, 

"You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt."

In our context, the phrase, "with all your offerings you shall offer salt," parallels Romans 12:1, which says that all Jesus' faithful followers are to be "living sacrifices."  How?  By denying the pleasures of sin and choosing to live a life according to the will of God.  Thus, we can see a contrast in this Scripture between the two future states of preservation:  heaven and hell.  Those who are living sacrifices to God will be preserved to enjoy God's love in heaven.  Everyone else that does not do the will of God will be preserved in hell to face their just punishment.

Mark 9:50 communicates a similar sentiment to Matthew 5:13.  "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."  And although salt preserves, if any Christian does not persevere until the end, he is worthless and good for nothing (Matt. 10:22; Rev. 2:10).  When one is the salt of the earth, he will have "peace with one another."

We are the salt of the earth when we love God's Truth and the souls of men.  When we speak the Truth in love, we can preserve life and show the flavor or beauty of our faith.  Love without Truth is blind and willing to combine with other false doctrines that suit it well.  Love without Truth compromises our firm faith.  Love without Truth ignores sin and fails to confront it.  On the other hand, Truth without love can be offensive and will turn people away from the Gospel.  Truth without love is cold and hard.  Truth without love has very little influence.  

Therefore, we need both Truth and love to be of great value like salt.  So, are you the salt of the earth?  Does your life show the qualities of salt?  Or have you been contaminated with impurity like sin?  

Remember the Lord's admonition, 

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  (Romans 12:2)

Why not start examining your life and see if there are any impurities you need to correct?  Why not resolve to start being the salt our Lord demands that we be?  Know that to be the salt of the earth is a great privilege granted to us by our Lord.

May God bless each one of us as we strive to please Him and do His will.  May our Lord help us never to lose our salt and become tasteless in His kingdom.  May we be Christians seasoned with His salt so that we may glorify Him with our righteous and godly works.

"Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."  (Luke 14:34). 

Luci