Having Salt in Yourselves
Mark 9:38-41, 49-50; James 5:13-20
Then Christ uses the metaphor of salt. If it’s good it
does good, but if it loses its saltiness it isn’t effective anymore. So, Christ
tells them to have salt in yourselves – concentrate on your own spiritual life
versus condemning those who are not in your group. Be at peace with one
another. This is counter to those who argue and are dogmatic about their point
of view versus being peaceable.
James tells us how to keep the salt in ourselves. If
we are suffering – pray. When we are cheerful, sing songs of praise. Then when
we are sick we are to call upon the elders of the church for anointing with
oil. This prayer of faith for the sick will save the sick – the Lord will raise
them up. Those who confess their sins will be forgiven. Spiritual healing comes
from confessing your sins to one another and praying for one another.
Those who are righteous are those that have salt in
themselves. Their prayers are powerful and effective. An example of one so
righteous is Elijah who prayed fervently in faith for the rain to stop and then
after 3 ½ years prayed it would continue again. Another attribute of having
salt in yourselves is the ability to bring back someone who has wandered from
the truth. In this way they will save the sinner from death.
May we strive to keep the faith in the techniques
given by James to be righteous. In this way being salt that will flavor the
world around us for Christ, being peaceable toward everyone – even those in
different denominations than ours. Amen
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