Devotion / The power of saltiness

You are the salt of the earth! are Jesus' words to his followers in Matthew 5:13.

I am reminded of a popular series of TV ads from the 1960s through the 1990s. It was for potato chips, and the slogan dared the viewer: Betcha can't eat just one!

I'm a salty snack guy. And I love potato chips. It's really hard for me to eat just one. I don't know that I ever have managed to eat just one of those light, thin, crispy treats. Some might say those snacks are addictive. I can imagine my mom saying, you better stop eating those or you are going to turn into one!

In a way, though, as Christians, we are supposed to be salty like a big potato chip. We want to make people thirsty to know Jesus.

Just like potato chips can make you thirsty because they're so salty, Jesus calls his followers the salt of the earth. He wants us to make others thirsty for the joy, peace, and hope that is found only in him.

The Lord encourages us to taste and see that he is good (Psalm 34:8). As believers who have experienced his goodness, we can tell our friends how great it is to know Jesus. We can let them see how glad we are to have him in our lives.

316NOW's ministry is to share the saving message of hope with those who haven't yet tasted God's goodness. What a blessing to know Jesus is always with us! He generously and freely gives us joy, peace, and hope--in both good times and difficult times.

Prayer: Dear Savior Jesus, help us to be the salt of the earth and make others thirsty for the wonderful forgiveness and hope found only in you. May those we reach out to see the joy you bring to our lives. Help us each day to share our faith and your saving message so that friends around the world thirst for the peace and comfort you alone offer.

by Dave Payne