“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.”

Matthew 5:13

I went to Dillons.com to check the grocery store’s online ordering system. Curious, I typed in the word “salt” to see how many varieties there were. I stopped counting after 50.

Sea Salt, Iodized Salt, Celtic Salt–many brands and containers and uses. So much salt! Nowadays the big grocery stores have dozens of options. Even in food deserts and underserved populations, if you want salt, you can find it. It’s everywhere.

The same was true in Jesus’ time. They didn’t have dozens of varieties–salt was salt. But it was plentiful because of the Dead Sea. People would collect the salty water, let the water evaporate, and there you go–all the salt you could ever need.

When Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth”, he wasn’t talking about a tiny, rare dash of flavor. He wasn’t talking about something exclusive and unobtainable. He was talking about something in abundance, available just about anywhere, something everyone had access to.

What he’s talking about is discipleship, bearing the Good News of God’s Love. Beneath all our bureaucracy and petty conflicts and differences in doctrine, we all claim to be salty. Stockpiling it doesn’t do any good–somehow when we hide our saltiness, it can become stale and flavorless. So we’re called so share it, in a million different ways.

Where are you sprinkling Good News? Are you aware of people who are underserved? Faith deserts? How can you make sure everyone receives the gift of the unconditional love of God without forcing it down people’s throats? How can your life be a testament to the richness and savoriness of a life in Christ?

Unlike Dillons, we’re not supposed to keep our salt on the shelf, either. We’re supposed to be everywhere–abundant and accessible, free to everyone. The next time you pick up a saltshaker, let it remind you of your mission: To shake things up for the Kingdom of God.

Friends, pass the salt.

(Now, I hope all this talk about salt has raised up some passion in your heart…

but not your blood pressure.)

Have a good week,

Mitch