“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

Jesus used salt to illustrate the qualities that should be evident in our lives as Christians. Salt was essential to life in the ancient world. It was used to preserve food. Without it, fish and meat would spoil within a day. Salt, by sustaining food, sustained life. Salt was also used as a fertilizer. It helped crops by encouraging growth. When added to the soil of fields, it increased the yield of grains, fruits, and vegetables. Salt also brought out the best flavors of food. Without it, food was dull and tasteless. 

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live salty lives. “Saltiness” is usefulness. We are to preserve God’s standard of character and integrity. Regardless of society’s constant decay, regardless of what modern culture approves, we are to hold tightly to what God says is good and right and true. Like salt, we are called to encourage growth—the growth of others’ faith and the growth of God’s heavenly yield. We are to enhance the flavor of lives around us with our patience and our love, and to share the hope we have in the Savior of the World. We are called to be God’s preserving agents, His heaven-growers, and His life-enhancers.

Salt makes a big difference, do you? How salty are you? Allow Jesus to preserve you from the world around you and give you the strength to keep from blending in with everyone else. Hold tightly to His unchanging standards, not the constantly shifting standards of this world. Encourage the spiritual growth of others, and share the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. And season the lives of everyone you meet by reflecting Jesus' heart in everything you do. Bring out the best in them, by sharing the best of you—the saltiest parts. You are loved!