Be impactful Part 2, by Aije Barnes, Dec 1 Issue 1 Vol 4

“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 NIV)

What is the usefulness of salt?

Here are four :

 

1. It gives flavour 

2. It is used as a healing agent

3. It is a preservative 

4. It is used as a melting agent 

 

So how can we apply this to our lives?

To give Flavour

Our presence should always add good flavour to everyone we come in contact with. The bible says, 

'As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ KJV)'

Take for example the parable of the Good Samaritan. In that story, the only person who added flavour to the injured Jew was the person whom everyone least expected because  both groups of people never got on. Even the Jewish high priest crossed the road! He of all people being religious, should have helped this poor injured man - his own countryman! 

We should therefore not be just known by the Christian title we bear, but also by what we say and do to or for all men both openly and secretly. 

 

In the right measure 

 

Too much salt can also be destructive and cause more harm than good. Therefore in order for it to be effective for example in producing a delicious meal, it must be applied in the right measure. 

 

This comes by wisdom given by God. When you are led by the Spirit of God you can never go wrong because He will lead you to do and say the right things at the right time. 

 

Knowing what to say and when to speak or act at the right time will prevent a lot of disasters from happening such as broken relationships , making a bad situation worse or creating conflict. 

 

The scriptures says:

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ NKJV).

As a healing agent 

Mouth ulcers and toothaches are very unpleasant but the relief you feel after treating them with warm salty water is so refreshing.  This is how we should be in this world. We should always have a positive impact in every situation we find ourselves. Let our presence bring healing to hurting situations. Again this has to be in the right measure at the right time -  just as putting salty warm water in your mouth when it is not needed is not nice neither does  it bring you any benefit. Again here, you need to allow the Holy Spirit lead you so that you will be effective in the right measure at the right time.

 

As a Preservative 

The scripture says: 

For the unbelieving husband is set apart (separated, withdrawn from heathen contamination, and affiliated with the Christian people) by union with his consecrated (set-apart) wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart and separated through union with her consecrated husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean (unblessed heathen, outside the Christian covenant), but as it is they are prepared for God [pure and clean]. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ AMP)

Here, we can see that the presence of a Christian husband or wife in the home covers the unbelieving spouse and their children.  Your presence as a believer therefore  preserves the rest of your close family (spouse and children) from whatever the unbelievers are exposed to.   

Look at Noah and his family. Noah was a man who feared God in his day. There was not much said in the bible about his wife  and children in regards to their relationship with God. However we can see that because Noah feared and obeyed the Lord, his family  was the only one in the entire world that God saved from the floods that destroyed every other living creature on earth. 

 

As a child of God you are called to walk with God and have close fellowship with him. This sets you apart from the world and positions you to receive His unmerited favour, mercies and countless blessings which will not only benefits you but also your spouse and all your children. 

 

Read Psalms 91 to have a sense of what this truly means.

 

To be continued.....

Shalom