JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Salt.

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said to His disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.”

Salt is a preservative and adds flavor to food. Spiritually speaking, we serve as the salt of the earth when we are an influence for the Gospel. God works through us to preserve society from moral decay and enables us to flavor this world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

One of the ways that we can represent Jesus in this way is through gracious words. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Being the Salt of the earth is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to flavor this world with God’s good news.

Jesus said to His followers in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.”

Salt is a preservative. When God’s people live out the Christian life, our influence keeps the world from descending deeper into moral or spiritual decay. The power of God’s love will flow through us to build faith and bring out the best qualities in people.

Salt also adds flavor to food. When God’s people live out the Christian life with acts of service, gracious words, and the attitude of Christ, we give other people the opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Colossians 4:5 says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Take the Daily Challenge to flavor this world with God’s good news on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Salt.

Jesus told His followers at the Sermon on the Mount, “You are the salt of the earth.”

There would have been two main purposes for salt in Jesus’ day. Salt was used as a preservative and to enhance flavor.

How is that relevant to Jesus’ followers? Jesus calls His followers to be an influence in the world that keeps the world from spiraling into moral decay.  But restraining the world from evil is not the only purpose.  We are also called to enhance the flavor of the Gospel in the world so that people may have the opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Find encouragement in the opportunity to be the salt of the earth in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – from Colossians 4:5 and 6.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Jesus once said that His followers were the salt of the earth, which indicates that we are called to flavor this world with the Gospel. One way that God helps us to do that is through our speech. When our words are full of grace, our witness reflects God’s love.

God’s grace is evident not only in the words we choose to say, but also how we choose to say them. A tone of gentleness and respect serves to build connections. When we hear of life challenges that someone is facing, we can offer to pray with them or remember them in our prayer time alone with God.

As we come into contact with unbelievers in our schools, our workplaces, and in other venues, God’s Word challenges us to look for those opportunities to share the Good News of God’s love with words of grace.

Conversation filled with grace is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com