"If the LORD delights in a person's way, He makes their steps firm; though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD upholds them with His hand." (Psalm 37:23,24)

THURSDAY, 20 August, 2020: “Trampled Salt”

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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
 
If you’ve lived in a climate where winters bring ice on sidewalks or roadways, then you understand the value of SALT. Maybe you’re familiar with those big piles of rock salt along roadsides. But you probably also know the mess of the ‘slush’ that remains on roads and the salt stain on your shoes, car, even your clothes. Perhaps you enjoy salt on your food, but have you ever tasted rancid salt?
 
These days we’re considering a strong statement that Jesus made once, which seems to fit with the conditions of our world right now. He said “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (Matt. 5:13) 
 
Yesterday I gave you three Life Principles from the first part of this statement, as we considered what difference “Salty Jesus Followers” could be making in our decaying world. Today let’s look at the second part of the statement Jesus made, as it applies to you and me. Is it possible a “Salty Christian” can lose their ‘saltiness’ so that they are useless in making any God honoring difference in our world? How does that happen?  And then here’s a second question… if a Christian can lose their saltiness, can it be restored, and if so how?  Now those are two very important life questions aren’t they, and I wonder what you think? By the way I welcome your questions or comments to our daily “Walking with Jesus“, and I urge you to send me your thoughts anytime. I’ll do my best to respond within 24 hours.
 
 
Ok, let’s dig into that first question… how can a “Salty Christian” lose their saltiness? In Ephesians 4:17-19 we get a clear picture. Remember Paul is writing to Christians in the city of Ephesus, and here he’s urging them to be careful that they don’t slide back into the lifestyle they lived before they experienced Jesus’ power in their lives. Paul writes: “So I insist on it in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality, so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.”
 
This my friends, is a clear picture of “Salty Christ Followers” who have lost their ‘saltiness’ as Jesus described it. When they reach this dark place, they are no longer effective or beneficial to other people, as Jesus followers. In fact, they have become a deterrent to anyone who knows them, and may have been contemplating pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ. That, my friends, is a dangerous place for any Christian to find themselves!
 
Do you see how it happens? It isn’t a sudden revolt, not even a traumatic event. It is a gradual drift beginning with ‘futile thinking‘. When a Christian begins to look at the world and think like a non-Christian, that wrong thinking will lead to very wrong conclusions, attitudes, words and decisions. Of course the Holy Spirit will be working on the mind and heart of this Christian warning them of their drift, convicting them of their wrong thinking, reminding them of God’s truth. . .but we all have the power to resist and even reject the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. That, my friends, will result in a hardening of your heart, as Paul points out. Wrong thinking will always produce a hard, defensive, resistant and prideful heart. 
 
 
And when a Christian develops a hard heart, they respond very negatively, defensively, even argumentatively to anyone who tries to help them, by pointing out to them how far their thinking and attitudes have spiraled down from where they were in the past. Have you ever been in this dark place my friends, or known anyone who has? Deep inside there are feelings of shame, remorse, frustration, even guilt. A Christian in this ‘saltless’ place has no desire to read God’s Word or Worship or Pray or gather with fellow Christians. 
 
They know they are spiritually drifting and on a downward spiral, but they can’t find their way out, so they begin to make excuses for themselves and actually start hanging out more with people who share their darkness, and help them feel it’s normal and enjoyable. Soon they may begin social drinking or hanging out in places they never had been before and resisting the places they know could help them. This is where “Salty Christians” have not only lost their ‘saltiness’ but they are becoming a roadblock for non-Christians who had an interest in Jesus and His answers for their life questions. 
 
Now what is the road back from this dark place of regret, remorse, and shame, for a Christian who has drifted into the darkness? Look at what Paul writes next in Ephesians 4:21-24 “When you heard about Jesus Christ, you were taught in Him according to the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught with regard to your former life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and to be made new in the attitudes of your mind…” This is really important friends, because normally when a Christian who has drifted back into the darkness is challenged or questioned by friends wanting to help, they either make excuses, or they appeal to the political/social correctness of their behavior, or finally they will blame others, declaring innocence for themselves. 
 
 
But Paul’s answer is NO… the only way out of the darkness is asking God for His truthful assessment and following God’s pathway back to a restored relationship with Him! Have you learned that powerful lesson friends? When God puts His finger on my problem, I cannot blame someone else, or try to argue with God, if I want to be restored. I need to welcome God’s conviction, own the problem and its impact on others, reject my bad choices and behavior and renew my commitment to Jesus, inviting HIM to do His powerful cleansing work through His Holy Spirit. 
 
Paul writes “…be made new in the attitude of your minds, and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Do you see that as the restoring, renewing work of the Spirit of God? So that my friends is how a “Salty Jesus Follower” drifts into the darkness, and God’s pathway out and back to a restored relationship with Jesus! Now, it’s very important to understand the Christian person who drifted away from his or her passionate relationship with Jesus into that hard hearted, making wrong choices darkness, did NOT lose their salvation along the way. 
 
They are still a born-again, adopted, redeemed son or daughter of the Most High God…but they are far from living in the privileged relationship God intends for His people. Their choices, their attitudes, their behavior, as bad as it is, cannot undo their salvation which God alone has accomplished for and in them! That’s the promise of John 6:37-40. This is why David cried out Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not remove from your Holy Spirit or cast me from Your presence. Restore to me the joy of YOUR salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” (Ps. 51:10-12)
 
 
Ok my “Salty Jesus Following” friends all around the world… this has been a very, very important study today. Here’s one final question: do you have a loving spouse or friends in your life, who love you enough, that they won’t let you drift into the darkness, but they’ll grab you, and tell you the truth of what they see in your drifting life? And when they do this, will you be honest enough with yourself and respectful of Jesus enough, that you’ll thank them and you’ll repent and you’ll experience God restoring your “Saltiness” so you can once again be a “Salty Jesus Follower” impacting our world as God has designed you, rather than a deterrent, a hindrance to what God is trying to do in your town? 
 
Let’s spend some self evaluating time right now… are you vibrantly salty, losing your saltiness, or have you lost it and are being trampled underfoot? 
 
Oh Lord Jesus, help us see ourselves. . .
 
 
 
 
 Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
 
 

Click to read today’s chapter: Matthew 5:13; Ephesians 4:17-24. (At the top you can choose a different translation.)
 

Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from youcontact me here.


Pastor Doug Anderson    262.441.8785  
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)

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