What Jesus Did! 'Salt!' — Matthew 5:13

Saturday, February 15, 2025

We're Short of Our Goal...Will You Help?

Your support is truly needed. Even small donations makes a big difference!

 Donate Now
[Jesus continued:] "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."
— Matthew 5:13 NLT

Key Thought

How does salt become "unsalty"? That's a logical question for folks who get their salt out of saltshakers and primarily use it for seasoning. In Jesus' day, salt was also an essential preservative. If salt were to lose its saltiness, then it would be good only to act as weed killer on the path where people frequently walked. In much the same way, the disciple who does not live by Kingdom-family values will lose his or her ability to influence and preserve the culture. In other words, Jesus was not interested in getting a group together just to have club meetings. He was calling disciples so that the righteousness, justice, and compassion of God could be shared and modeled to the world. If his disciples were to lose those things, then of what good and positive influence could they be?

Today's Prayer

Holy and Righteous God, I want to share your grace and bring your deliverance and joy to my friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Please help my influence in each of these places to be a blessing and a positive influence. Please forgive me for the times I have not been a preserving, redeeming, and saving influence to those around me. In the name of Jesus who has saved me. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

20 Related Resources by Heartlight

Matthew 5:13
Devo: Today's Verse
""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...."
Salt of the Earth
Illustration of Matthew 5:13
Inspirational illustration of Matthew 5:13 -- "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."
Where to Begin
Article by Rubel Shelly
Is there a place to start making the world a better place? To start making things better, begin with yourself!
Using Every Opportunity to Be Salt
Virtual Worship by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware
With the genuine seeker, the struggling follower longing to be more godly, and those broken by life, the Lord used tender language filled with grace and mercy. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to be salt to a world of decay, flavorlessness, and bland hope.
See All 20 Related Resources about Matthew 5:13

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 5:13 NLT — [Jesus continued:] "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, February 15, 2025

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Christians Tell Demons to Leave Permanently'
"When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of....."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Love Each Other!'
"Dear Beloved, You are the Father's child! You are precious! The Father adopted you into Our — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit's — family....."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Psalm 27:1
"The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?"
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Luke 4:18
"None but Jesus can give deliverance to captives. Real liberty cometh from him only. It is a liberty righteously bestowed; for the Son, who is Heir of...."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!