My husband has learned to look away.
Patrons near our restaurant table raise their eyebrows with questions.
Social etiquette might suggest it improper or rude to the chef.
While most prefer ketchup, there’s nothing more satisfying to my palate than a French fry dipped in salt.
Yes, call me the big dipper.
If ordering fast food and handfuls of salt packets are missing in the bag with our French fries, the birds are swooping low to eat my share I’ve thrown to the ground.
Fries without salt is bland, boring, has no kick, is disappointing, and doesn’t put me on a scavenger hunt for those hidden at the bottom of the take-out bag.
Such is the culinary spice God has called us Christians to be in this world; salty.
You are the salt of the earth…
Matthew 5:13 NIV
The flavor of Jesus in our lives should have others asking when they taste a small sample of our love,
“What’s different about you?”
They won’t be able to pin-point at first that secret ingredient which whets their appetite for more (of Him); but they’ll ask.
Onlookers nearby will raise their eyebrows with questions and want what those sitting at our table are having.
Being a big dipper in His Word and prayer will retain our saltiness and flavor for Jesus to taste good to those hungry for Him.
We are warned though to guard the seasonings of our heart from becoming watered down and tasteless when we’d rather blend in with everyone else instead of standing out in the crowd for His name’s sake.
Without salt, we become bland and boring, living a life of disappointment and without kick, affecting no one for Jesus.
Without salt, we are those cast away fries for the birds; becoming of no value to God.
…But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to the thrown out and trampled by men.
Matthew 5:13 NIV
But how does the salt shaker from the spice rack of our heart become full again?
How can the tasteless become flavorful once more for Jesus?
Might it be through the salty tears from our Godly sorrow?
Might it be from the salty watershed tears of a repented heart?
Peter wept bitterly after denying he knew Jesus three times to save his own life following the Lord’s arrest.
…the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the world the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:60-62 NIV
Yet in our own life…
Do we deny Jesus as Peter did when we fail to speak up for our Lord at work, when our job might be on the line if we do?
Do we deny Jesus as Peter did when we keep His truth to ourselves instead of confronting what’s contrary to God’s heart?
Do we deny Jesus when we stop needing and meeting with Him in our prayers, stop seeking for Him in the scriptures, and finding no reason to gather with the saints on Sunday?
Do we deny Jesus as Peter did for our safety’s sake instead of risking prison or our very life when Godly truth in a dying world is desperate for it?
Are we tasteless if others aren’t wondering…
“What’s different about you?”
Oh, that we weep those salty tears from our Godly sorrow.
Oh, that we weep those salty watershed tears of a repented heart.
Oh, that we weep bitterly as Peter did from the weight of the denials of our Lord.
But praise be to God for the Lord is faithful to forgive us again and to use us again as he did for Peter, when Jesus asked him three times over with His statement of love…
“Peter, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my lambs.”
(John 21)
Apples of Gold Encouragement 