Matthew 5:13 - How Salty Are You?

Matthew 5:13

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.

When Jesus declared, "You are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13), He wasn't asking us to go out into the world like Emeril Lagasse, shouting “Bam!” and adding flavor to everything—He was laying down a profound and meaningful guideline for how we’re meant to live as His followers.

So, what does it really mean to be the “salt of the earth,” and why does it matter so much?

Matthew 4:4 - Food for the Soul

Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

I love to eat - admittedly, too much at times. You can keep your steak and potatoes, to me, there’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of a freshly baked casserole, bubbling with cheese and filled with layers of savory goodness. Whether it’s a hearty lasagna, hot “Chicken Mexicana”, or even a classic green bean casserole, food has a way of bringing joy, warmth, and satisfaction to our lives. But as much as I cherish these earthly delights, I know that food, and all things of this world, pale in comparison to the things of Heaven. It’s essential to keep this perspective in mind, especially when we consider the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 4:4.

Galatians 2:20 - Have You Had a Close Call?

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Have you ever had a “close call”? Maybe you just missed being hit by a car that didn’t see you while changing lanes. Or perhaps you were hit—but came through the experience with only a few bumps and bruises—yet when you look at your car, you wonder how you weren’t killed!

If you’ve lived a normal life, you can probably look back and recall a lot of close calls—some closer than others.

Romans 8:28 - God's Fingerprints

Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Certain truths can astound me even when I intellectually understand them. Things like gravity — the invisible force that anchors us to the Earth and directs planetary motion. Or flight — where enormous metal planes defy gravity with nothing but air. And magnetism, too, with its invisible forces pulling and pushing objects, all seem a bit like magic, but are real facts of life.

Among these everyday marvels, one that truly intrigues me is the fingerprint. Each person's fingerprints are unique, not even identical twins share the same patterns. The idea that no two individuals, past or future, will ever have the same fingerprints is astonishing. Though they are formed in our 10th week in the womb, our fingerprints serve as a personal identifier for the rest of our lives – and beyond. This remarkable detail in our design underscores the handiwork of our Creator.

Colossians 3:9-10 - Who Are You?

Colossians 3:9-10

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

When you interact with other people, who are you? How would you describe yourself?

Are you the Person of Mystery? The person who never lets anyone see the "real you," instead creating a façade that only shows others what you want them to see – not your true self inside?

Are you the Chameleon? Are you like the color-changing lizard that matches its surroundings, adapting to people, shifting your personality based on who you are with at the moment?

Are you the "What You See Is What You Get" person? Do you say, "I am who I am and I won’t change," and equate honesty with being coarse and abrasive, refusing to adjust your behavior to avoid “hypocrisy”?

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith and Doubt

 Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Faith and doubt—two forces we often struggle with—seem like polar opposites, but have you ever thought of them as companions? The tension between faith and doubt is a natural part of our Christian walk.

Faith, by its nature, requires a leap into the unknown. 

Faith asks us to believe in something we can't tangibly prove or understand, which often leaves us teetering on the edge of doubt.

1 John 4:8 - Why Does God Love Us?

1 John 4:8

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

When you think about mankind, and think about how we are basically selfish, uncooperative, and disrespectful, you have to ask yourself the question, “Why does God love man?” This age-old question can be answered in several ways, but ultimately, it boils down to the nature of God Himself.

God’s love for mankind is a reflection of His own nature. The Apostle John told us in 1 John 4:8 that God is love. Everything He does is motivated by love. Think about that. It isn't because we have earned His love, or that we deserve His love. He loves us because He is love.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 - God's Memory

Jeremiah 31:31-34

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.

33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 

34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Isn't human memory fascinating? It's so crucial to our lives that without it, we couldn't even manage simple tasks like walking or swallowing. Yet, our memories have a funny way of working. Have you noticed how we're more likely to remember the bad stuff and forget the good? We often dwell on our failures and flaws, while our successes and talents slip our minds.

Let me ask you something. When you think of David from the Old Testament, what's the first thing that pops into your mind? Is it the scandal with Bathsheba? Or do you think of David as "the man whose heart belonged to God"?

1 Peter 5:8 - Are You Watching For Snakes?

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

When I was 14 years old, my cousin, my uncle and I were fishing along the bank of a remote river in California. I was walking a bit up ahead of the others, and was having a great time hopping from rock to rock.

To the side of the trail, I saw a bundle of twigs on top of some rocks. It seemed out of place somehow, so I stopped to look. And – I almost didn’t see what it was! I had almost stepped on a baby snake sunning itself on a rock. It wasn’t moving, just laying there all twisted up.

Mark 8:34 - Are You a Disciple?

Mark 8:34 (Also Matthew 16:24-27 and Luke 9:23)

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Give it some thought, then answer these two questions: