Scripture

“Salt is good for seasoning But if it loses its flavour how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

Observation

John tells Jesus that they saw someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus, but he wasn’t in their group, so they told him to stop.

Jesus says they shouldn’t stop people doing things A person who uses Jesus’ name to work a miracle is not going to say bad things about Him.

He goes on to say that anybody who leads other another person to sin will be judged severely, and anyone whose hand or foot or eye causes them to sin, they should remove it. It is far better to go to heaven impaired than to go to hell with all of your body parts intact.

Application

We usually interpret Jesus’ statements about salt as referring to the way individual christians bring flavour and preservation into society. But here Jesus is saying that we need to have salt amongst ourselves.

Christianity is meant to be lived in a community. “Lone Ranger” christians, in my experience, tend to be less sanctified, less mature, and less effective in living for Christ. We encourage one another In our walk with Christ as we share and talk together.

Jesus is not looking for just any random collection of followers. He wants us to “have salt” amongst ourselves. This means we build a robust community that allows people to be all that God wants them to be. Sometimes there may be confrontation about sinful actions, or unhealthy attitudes, sometimes there will be encouragement to go deeper in the Lord or to start something new with the Lord.

A church without the salt of the Holy Spirit is just another club. We need the Spirit to mould us together in His peace.

Listen

Lord, what would you say to me about this passage?

Keith, you have done well in directing, encouraging, and moulding your community of faith. This always needs to be done in my grace and with my Spirit.

Leadership in the church generally should be gentle, except when confronting great wickedness.

Show the same grace when people sin repeatedly, as I show to you when you sin repeatedly.