
Pastor Lonnie Phillips
Jesus says to all of His disciples in Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."
I recently came off of an 8 day detox where I couldn't have any salt. My body groaned, and I must confess I grumbled a lot. I don't think I have ever been without salt until this detox.
When Jesus declares to His followers that we are the salt of the earth, he is declaring both identity and purpose over us. Salt was used as a purifying agent to preserve as well as to provide taste.
The only way we can walk as salt of the earth is if we are walking in the truth. Satan knows that if he can corrupt the church with lies and falsehood then the church stops walking in its purpose and calling.
The Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, is the agent by which God's people are made the salt of the earth. He is also the one who anchors us in the truth of God's word to lead us in holiness and righteousness.
When we stop depending on Him, who dwells in us and desires to fill us daily, we lose our taste and will become corruptible. When we completely surrender to His ways by declaring, "Not my will but your will be done." then we are purified and reflect Jesus to a lost world that needs Him desperately.
The fruit of the Spirit found in Galtatians 5 which is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we manfiest the fruit of the Spirit we are being the salt of the earth and are in essence declaring to the world, "Taste and see that the Lord is Good!"