Wednesday, September 10, 2025

 

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.  (Matthew 5:13)

 

 

Salt not only provides flavor (zest).

 

Salt also brings out the natural flavors of the foods it seasons.

 

“This sure is salty!” is not a compliment to the chef!  It means too much salt was added to the soup. 

 

Salt is amazing in that, when present in the right amount, it brings out the good flavors of the other ingredients.

 

When we are “the salt of the earth” our very presence...

(1) enhances the joy and celebration of even the most ordinary of evens, and

 

(2) helps others through the most difficult, disturbing, and sorrowful situations in life.

 

 

There are moments when we feel we are lacking in our faithfulness to Christ Jesus our Lord.  We worry we should be saying something more profound, more faithful.  We fret we are not engaging in actions that will make everything better.

 

It may just be that in those moments when we feel the most inadequate, we are in fact bringing “just the right amount of salt” to bear, just the right amount of the Gospel of Jesus to bear.

 

It may just be there are moments when our modesty in word and action are precisely what is needed.

 

Sometime ago, a well-meaning Christian, in an attempt to provide comfort to a grieving mother when her high school son was tragically killed, said, “God needed a forward in heaven.”  (The young boy played on his High School basketball team.)

 

Yes, “...in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)  In the end, all will be well!

 

However, at that moment of grief, the words of that well-meaning Christian were “too much salt."

 

It would have been better to sit and grieve with that heart-broken mother.

 

 

Let us be thankful when we can bring "just the right amount of salt" to a world in need.

 

Often, just the right amount of salt comes through simple quiet conversation.

 

And, maybe even more often, through our loving silence.

Blessings, 

Pastor Karl

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

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You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it ba made salty again?  It is not longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  (Matthew 5:13)

 

 

Jesus spoke in the language, and in the images, of everyday life.

 

Salt is about as everyday and ordinary as you can get.

 

Jesus proclaimed that His followers were called to be the “salt of the earth."

 

We need to stretch our imaginations to understand the importance of salt in Jesus’ day.

 

We live in a society of abundant, safe, and tasty food.  Many of us struggle to cut-down on our salt intake as we attempt to control our blood pressure.

 

In Jesus’ day things were different.

 

Salt was necessary to make food palatable.

 

The addition of salt gave food flavor and, we might say, zest.

 

What salt does for food, Jesus’ disciples are to do for people’s lives — provide flavor and zest.

 

We are to add to our relationships that which brings out the goodness of life, the “flavor” of life, so that others might know the joy of living with and for our Lord.

 

In a time when Christians are seen as quick to “pour cold water” on whatever is taking place, can we be those who bring out a zest for life that others can see, feel, and experience?

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Blessings,

 

Pastor Karl

Monday, September 1, 2025

 

He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  (Romans 8:32)

 

 

The Apostle Paul understood that God’s love for us was proven, beyond the shadows of a doubt, in His sending His Son Jesus Christ for our salvation.

 

Therefore, we can be assured that God will give us all things.

 

While I hesitate to add or subtract from Scripture (see Revelation 22:18-19), nevertheless, as we interpret the verse above we would do well to realize that the implication is that  God will …”graciously give us all good things."

 

I say this because of the words “…along with him…”, that is Jesus.

 

God will not give us harmful things, or useless things.  God will give us the things of the Kingdom.

 

The things of the Kingdom are, in fact, the best things of all.

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Blessings,

 

Pastor Karl

Friday, September 5, 2025

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If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.  So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  (Romans 14:8)

 

 

The Apostle Paul had great hope in Christ for this life on earth.  He was convinced that his Savior would see him through.

 

The Apostle Paul also had great hope for the life to come.  “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”  (1 Corinthians 15:19)

 

We can be confident when we face the difficulties of life, and we can be confident when we come face-to-face with death, because whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

 

Let us hold tight to this great present-and-future-hope we have in our Lord Jesus!

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Blessings,

Pastor Karl

Thursday, September 4, 2025

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I keep my eyes always on the Lord,

With him at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.  (Psalm 16:8)

 

 

A “right-hand-man” is one whose judgment and council we trust.  

 

When our “right-hand-man” speaks we listen, we take to heart, and we follow the advice given.

 

King David, the author of this Psalm, spoke of how he would never be shaken because he continually looked towards, listened to, and followed the council of the Lord.

(1) David’s words speak of a great humility concerning his ability to make it through life on his own.

 

(2) David’s words also speak of a great trust in the Lord’s presence with him at all times.

 

We do well when we follow David’s lead and look, not to ourselves, but to the Lord for strength, wisdom, and direction.

 

Like David, when we do so, we will never be shaken.

Blessings,

Pastor Karl