Well, once again, we'll turn,
as God may help us, to the Gospel of Matthew, and again, Chapter
5. And I don't intend going right
through this chapter, but as you know, we've gone through
those items. It's really been Begin with blessed
and that brings us then really to the 13th verse and the 13th
verse Speaks in this way. We'll read it so Matthew chapter
5 verse 13 Ye are the salt of the earth But if the salt had
lost his savor Wherewith shall it be salted? in his sense forth
good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men." We see here then that Jesus uses
the analogy of Saul. Salt, as we know, is used to
flavour food, and it has great benefits from that perspective. And also, of course, it has considerable
healing qualities. So salt is really something which
is quite important. But the Lord Jesus here speaks
to the people, to the multitudes, addresses them in this way and
says ye are the salt of the earth and that clearly means that they
would have an effect upon the people of the earth and also
that they would have a good effect upon the people of the earth."
And so he goes on to clarify that statement by saying, if
the sword had lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?
It's not possible to rejuvenate salt. If it loses its saltness,
then it is of no use. As the Lord says, it is thenceforth
good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot
of men. And the reality is that the Lord
spoke these words to multitudes to just prove to them that they
were something which was important and they were not therefore to
lose the blessing which they had received. But there were
to be that situation which would be truly beneficial to the Church
of God and to the world at large. We read that fourth chapter in
the Colossians, and in that chapter the Apostle Paul says, toward them that are without,
redeeming the time. That means he was concerned that
there may be a good example set before those who were outside
the church and not in the church, walking wisdom to them that are
without, and redeeming the time. And then he says, let your speech
be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how
ye ought to answer every man." Often, I'm sure, we come into
situations where we're not very sure how to respond, perhaps,
to questions which are put to us. But the Lord really answers
this through the Apostle Paul, in this way that our speech,
our answers, should always be with grace. That's in a gracious
way. They shouldn't be in a harsh
way. They should be with love. And he says, seasoned with salt. The words might be effectual. The words might be flavoursome. They might have something which
is attractive, necessary and useful. Well, what a mercy it
is if we're concerned then as we find ourselves today living
in the world and that we are concerned that as we walk in
the world, we are there for an influence for good. You know,
when the apostle wrote to the church of Corinth and the Corinthians
were not a very gracious people, For the most part, there were
some, but the Apostle Paul had to correct them. Then he comes
and he says this in the second chapter of the second letter.
Now, thanks be to God, which always causes us to triumph in
Christ and make it manifest the savour of his knowledge by us
in every place. See that speaks there, the savour
of his knowledge. It's very similar to that which
is explained by salt being added and a benefit to our food. And here surely it is, the desire
that as we go about to have the evidence that God is with us
and God is causing us to triumph in Christ and to desire to exalt
Christ and make manifest the savour of his knowledge. And surely you and I think and
meditate upon what Christ did how glorious a theme it is. And it should surely be a savour
to us and a savour to others as we're able to declare what
Christ has done. And therefore, says Paul, making
manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place, not just
an isolated situation, but in every place. We should remember
also that salt, of course, preserves from corruption. I'm sure we
are aware of that. And yet, you see, if it's lost
its power, it's lost its saltiness, it's of no value. It doesn't
do that. It's tasteless. And so our lives
should show forth God's praise. Our walk, our conversation on
good things, Christ-like in our attitude, That's really the analogy
of salt in our lives, to show forth the glory of Christ, to
show forth his love, to show forth his mercy. And that should
really be not just in the words that we speak, but in the way
we act, in our walk. What a good thing it is if I
walk and our conversation is savoury. That means it's Christ-like. Well, we should surely desire
that it is so. What a blessing it is then if
our conversation is on good things. So easy, isn't it, for our conversation
to be wrapped up in carnal things. which do not profit. And yet,
if we are to follow this word, ye are the salt of the earth,
that means we show forth the praise of God, we desire to speak
well of him, desire to exhort him in our conversation. What
a blessing that should be. But if that is not so, the Lord
says, it is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and
to be trodden underfoot of man. And that's very solemn, isn't
it, to think of in our lives. If we are to be cast out, we're
good for nothing. When there's no salt, there's
no savour in our conversation. Surely we should desire to hear
the words of the Saviour. And we read in the Gospel of
Mark, these words in the ninth chapter, right at the end. For everyone shall be salted
with fire. and every sacrifice shall be
salted with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt
hath lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt
in yourselves, and have peace one with another. Well, just
a few comments really on this little subject. We're all aware
of salt. We're all aware, I'm sure, of
the benefit. I know, medically, there is much
today against salt, but nonetheless, it does have benefits. And ye
are salt of the earth. But, if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? in his thenceforth good
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot
of men.