My husband Michael likes to make his own air popped popcorn. Because we like to eat healthy, Michael seasons it himself rather than using a store-bought mix. We all enjoy it—except when it comes to the salt. Michael likes his salty, and since we use sea salt, it turns out very salty. After complaining about it multiple times, Michael finally cut back on the amount of salt he applied. But recently he’s been making a bowl just for me with a decreased amount of salt. I am grateful…and less thirsty.
Though my personal preference for popcorn is less salt, God’s desire for our personal saltiness is the more salt. In fact, without His salty flavor in our lives growing every day, we won’t represent Him well at all. He has made us to be salt in the earth—flavoring the world with His pure flavor. We represent Him and draw others to Him.
“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).
We should never back off from our saltiness. In fact, we should become saltier—more flavorful—the longer we walk with God. This probably doesn’t sound too difficult, but in the world we live in, it can become a challenge if we’re not protecting our flavor.
Take a moment to read all of Matthew 5. This chapter talks about the lifestyle of a Christian—holiness, integrity, good deeds, etc. These attributes are what make us stick out in a world of trashy flavors. While the world is bitter and resentful, our salty God-flavor is gentle and kind. When others around us struggle to keep their word, our integrity is obvious. When few are protecting their sexual purity and faithfulness in marriage, our purity overwhelms the lust. We are so saturated in Christ-like flavor that we stand out among those around us.
However, over time we can let our flavor lessen in strength. If we don’t keep our guard up, we can become infiltrated with the world’s ungodly flavors. It doesn’t take much. Entertaining moments of unforgiveness, telling “little” lies, and harboring impure thoughts can easily turn into a lifestyle. A little here and a little there contaminates our lives to the point that we cease representing God altogether. That is why God’s Word tells us to guard our hearts, to be vigilant, and to walk through life fully alert so the devil’s plans to dilute our saltiness won’t succeed.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23, NKJV).
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world (1 Peter 5:8-9, NKJV).
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-18, AMP).
Years ago, I worked in an office of full of ladies. Though they were nice to me, they did not represent Jesus with the way they talked and lived. Instead, they were flavored with a lack of integrity and honor. One lady, however, was sweet and made me feel welcome. A few months after I started, she hurried up to me and dropped a hand-scribbled note onto my desk before scurrying back to her office. The note was a cry for salvation. She wanted to be pure and to set a good example for her girls. Ecstatic, I arranged to meet her in her car after work. There I explained the basics of the Gospel and led her to the Lord. As a result, she came to church with me regularly and the rest of her family got saved. Praise God!
But what if I had watered down my Christian flavor at the office so no one could tell there was any difference between me and the unsaved people in the room? What if I had simply blended in and acted just like everyone else? This woman would not have had any reason to approach me. She wouldn’t have known that I had the insight she was looking for.
The devil will approach us with many opportunities to replace our godly salty flavor with another. Any time we may be tempted to the sport the world’s flavor, or mellow out our saltiness, we must cast that temptation down. We should get rid of anything that would decrease our salt. It is, after all, not our flavor, but His.
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50, NIV).
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1, NKJV).
Christa Madrid 