How can we discern if our "salt" has lost its flavor spiritually? Setting the Table: Jesus’ Picture of Salt “ ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.’ ” (Matthew 5:13) Why Salt Matters: Intended Effects on the World • Preserves what would otherwise decay (Genesis 18:24–32; Romans 1:18–32 shows what happens when restraint is gone). • Enhances flavor—making God’s goodness tangible to others (Psalm 34:8; Colossians 4:6). • Creates thirst—pointing people to living water (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39). • Signals covenant faithfulness (Leviticus 2:13; 2 Chronicles 13:5). Symptoms of Spiritual Insipidity • Compromised holiness—comfortably blending with the moral climate instead of preserving it (James 4:4). • Dull speech—words no longer “seasoned with salt” but flavored by cynicism, anger, or gossip (Colossians 4:6). • Loss of influence—relationships once marked by light now marked by indifference or avoidance (Matthew 5:16). • Absence of spiritual appetite—personal Bible intake and prayer feel optional rather than vital (Psalm 119:103; 1 Peter 2:2-3). • Shrinking gospel witness—rarely sharing Christ, rarely moved by the eternal state of others (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). • Stagnant character—virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 not increasing, leading to “ineffective and unproductive” living (2 Peter 1:8-9). Diagnosing the Causes • Forgetting first love (Revelation 2:4-5). • Grieving or quenching the Spirit through unconfessed sin (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). • Neglecting abiding fellowship with Christ (John 15:4-6). • Settling for knowledge without obedience (James 1:22-25). • Isolation from the body of believers where sharpening happens (Hebrews 10:24-25; Proverbs 27:17). Restoring the Flavor 1. Remember & Repent – “Remember from where you have fallen; repent and perform the deeds you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5) 2. Renew Abiding – Prioritize unhurried time in Word and prayer; invite the Spirit to expose and revive (Psalm 51:10-12; John 15:7). 3. Re-embrace Obedience – Act on revealed truth immediately (Psalm 119:60; Luke 11:28). 4. Reconnect in Fellowship – Seek accountability and mutual stirring toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). 5. Re-engage the Mission – Look for daily ways to season conversations, serve needs, and share the gospel (Colossians 4:5-6; Mark 9:50). Promises for Those Who Remain Salty • Fruit that endures (John 15:8, 16). • Joy made full (John 15:11). • A compelling testimony that causes others to glorify God (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12). • A rich welcome into the eternal kingdom (2 Peter 1:10-11). Takeaway Snapshot When holiness, gospel passion, and Christ-like speech fade, our salt is losing savor. By remembering our first love, repenting, abiding in Christ, and re-engaging His mission, the Spirit restores flavor that preserves a decaying world and points it to the Savior. |
    |