FULL FLAVOR
Mathew 5:11-16
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 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 by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it
gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Unsalted peanuts. Whoever dreamed up such a concoction was obviously no peanut lover. I am a connoisseur of the plump, crunchy, Jimmy Carter specialty. I like them boiled, in the shell, or out of the can. I like them however I can get them--cajun, honey, or classic. I do not, however, like them unsalted. A peanut without salt is bland and boring. Something's there--but it has lost its kick. You might as well be munching on gravel.
A world without radical Jesus-followers has this same dull emptiness. After spelling out an intense list of upside-down values, where the meek have the power and the poor have the wealth, Jesus told His followers that they were the salt, the taste-bud tickling force in the world. Many suppose Jesus' reference to His disciples as salt was grounded in His desire for them to be a "preservative," to hold back evil by righteous living. That may be part of it, but I don't think it's the primary essence of His imagery.
When stating what is done with "salt that loses its saltiness,"Jesus asked, "How can it be made salty again?" (Matthew 5:13). What good is salt that no longer causes a person to smack his lips, hispalate delighted with the flavor of his food?
The real questions are, "What good is a church that no longer entices people to the good news of Jesus? What good are the people of God if they no longer model true life--abundant, hopeful,generous, pleasure-filled?"
Somehow, we've abandoned the reality that we--the church--are a community of pleasure and tantalizing joy. Somehow, it seems we believe we offer truth--lifeless and bland as it may be--but real pleasure, that's an advantage the system of this world has over us.
It's a lie. God is the author of true pleasure, the God of sweet aromas, beautiful landscapes, and rich flavors. And He invites us to be His people, to season the world with His goodness. --WinnCollier
DESTINATION POINTS
* What would it mean to live a pleasure-filled godly life?
* Do Ibelieve that following Jesus is the way of pleasure? Really?
* Howdoes this help me understand the gospel as "good news"?
LINKS:
How Can I Know What God Wants Me To Do?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0704/
bottom line: Shake it up. Salt something.
soul journey
