Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Living this kind of life taught by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew Chapter 5, affects not only the disciple, but also affects and influences those around us. These are well known biblical phrases, in verses 13,14.
We have the characteristics of the disciple of Jesus in these earlier verses, and now right away we are encouraged to impact the world.
We are to be willing and prepared to count the cost. Counting the cost first avoids the need to resign, or run away, or compromise later on. Why count the cost? Surely that is one way to put people off. Yes, certain people will be put off by that, but not those who mean business with God.
Why count the cost – because Jesus Christ wants salty disciples.
True obedient dedicated reliable faithful disciples are like salt. Jesus points out to these disciples that they can have an enormous influence on the world around them.
But if there is an unwillingness to forsake all and follow Jesus, then the salt can soon lose its tang, and it can lose its tang quickly.
Salt was a preservative, as well as a flavouring.
It was not just that the world was bland or tasteless and you could make it more interesting. The world would be even more rotten, stinking, fly covered, and rancid, if it were not for the Church of Jesus Christ – like meat left out in a hot country and going off totally.
We are called to keep society from decay, and that is a massive calling.
The salt referred to here was used as fertiliser, or disinfectant.
It would be scraped up from the shores of the Dead Sea, but if there was too much sand or soil in it, it would not be so effective.
It would lose its saltiness, if there was too much of the world in it.
You might be the only grain of salt in your circle. Be careful not to lose your tangy influence. We might feel that we are in such a minority. Jesus says, “You are”.
Luke Chapter 14 verses 34,35 – The salt was used to promote growth - to allow things to grow – a fertiliser because of its high potash content – and it was also spread on latrines to prevent bad stuff and evil things from spreading.
This is our calling in Christ - and that is why we must not have too much of the world in us - or the salt will lose its tang - its powerful influence.
When we are committed to Jesus Christ and His Word, we will help good things grow, and we will prevent other people from spreading bad things. But if we lose our vitality - if we let the world wash away all our saltiness - if we allow our influence to become diluted and compromised - our effectiveness decreases.
Jesus Christ is calling men and women to be more than mere listeners. He is calling us to be salty disciples - salting the earth - promoting the growth of what is good - and preventing the spread of that which is bad.
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Jesus is saying - Now pay attention - this is important for service and ministry in the Kingdom of God.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.