Key Thought

We are called to be the salt of our culture and of our time. Salt is used for taste, for fertilizer, and for preservation. Jesus refers to all three uses at one time or another in his ministry. His point? If we lose our basic nature, our God-given usefulness, then we are unhelpful to the Kingdom and God's work in the world. His message is a harsh one, but one we need to hear. Living as Kingdom people in our time is crucial: crucial to our world and crucial to our discipleship. We are called to surrender all to Jesus to be used for his work in the world. To do anything less is to lose our "saltiness!"

Today's Prayer

Father, open my eyes so that I can see any areas in my life that I have not completely surrendered to the Lordship of your Son. I want to be useful to your Kingdom and to your work in the world. I want to live a life completely committed to you so that you may be glorified, so that my life will fulfill your purposes for me, and so that my life will have an impact for good on all those around me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Many people were traveling with Jesus. Jesus said to the people, "If a person comes to me, but will not leave his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters, then that person cannot be my follower. A person must love me more than he loves anything—even his own life! If a person will not carry the cross (suffering) that is given to him when he follows me, then that person cannot be my follower. If you wanted to build a building, you would first sit down and decide how much it would cost. You must see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don't do that, you might begin the work, but you would not be able to finish. And if you could not finish it, then all the people watching would laugh at you. They would say, 'This man began to build, but he was not able to finish!' "If a king is going to fight against another king, first he will sit down and plan. If the king has only 10,000 men, he will plan to see if he is able to defeat the other king that has 20,000 men. If he cannot defeat the other king, then he will send some men to speak to the other king and ask for peace. It is the same for each of you. You must decide if you can leave everything you have to follow me. If not, you cannot be my follower! "Salt is a good thing. But if the salt loses its salty taste, then you can't make it salty again. It is worth nothing. You can't even use it for soil or for plant food. People throw it away. "You people that hear me, listen!"

Related Scripture Readings

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, then it cannot be made salty again. Salt is good for nothing, if it loses its salty taste. It must be thrown out and people walk on it. "You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don't hide a light under a bowl. No. People put the light on a lamp table. Then the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that people will see the good things you do. Live so that people will praise your Father in heaven.

"Salt is good. But if the salt loses its salty taste, then you can't make it salty again. So, be full of goodness. And have peace with each other."

Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without anything wrong in you. You will be God's children without fault. But you are living with evil people all around you who have become very bad. Among those people you shine like lights in the dark world.

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