CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

Salt is the combination of two basic chemicals: sodium and chlorine. When they are combined they form salt. Christian character is composed of two important ingredients: faith and works. As chlorine gas is a deadly poison by itself, so faith without works is dead. Metal sodium alone is likewise destitute of the saving quality of salt. So is works without faith. As the chemical union of these two elements forms salt, so faith and works, when united, give life and efficiency to Christian character.

Christian character is genuinely qualitative.When Jesus said to "have salt in yourselves" He was inviting us to link up to the authentic Source of Taste! The Psalmist put it this way: "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps.34:8). Later, Peter adds: "now that you have tasted that the Lord is good....grow up in your salvation" (I Pet.2:2-3). The most compelling evidence then is demonstrated through what Paul calls "the fruit of the Spirit"(Gal.5:22), which includes "love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

If the Church is to regain its influence in our present decadent society, perhaps we need to
take another serious look at what Scripture says about Christian character and start putting it into practice.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT --Matthew 5:13

In the Beatitudes, Jesus prepares His followers to live out their faith. The poor in spirit demonstrate a contrite heart; those who mourn demonstrate a repentant heart; the meek demonstrate a humble heart, those who hunger for righteousness demonstrate a hungry hear; the merciful, a compassionate heart; the pure, a pure heart, the peacemaker, a peace-filled heart; and the persecuted, a tested heart. Once He has control of our hearts, He is ready to thrust us out into the world as His Salt.

The Bible mentions salt over 30 times. When Jesus states, "you are the salt of the earth," He was moving from the abstract to the functional; from theory to practice. Salt is used to season food. It acts as a preservative and flavors food. Paul states in Colossians 4:6, "let your conversation be with grace, seasoned with salt." Food is bland without salt and our testimony falls flat without Christ. The psalmist put it this way: " O taste and see that the the Lord is good" (Ps.34:8)

So how can we make others thirsty for God? It is true that we can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink. However, put a block of salt near the water and after a few licks he will drink. If salt remains in a salt shaker it has little value. But turn it upside down and put it on meat or vegetables and it's flavor is enhanced. Are you making other thirsty for God or has your testimony lost its flavor? "If the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything." Body cells must have salt in order to live. Blood, sweat and tears have salt. The Christian is salt because he has Christ and without Christ there is no life.

Imagine yourself as a salt shaker! There are all kinds of salt shakers: big ones, small ones; some used only in kitchens, ornate ones used at banquets or special occasions. It doesn't really matter the size, shape, color, or value! What really matters is whether there is salt in the shaker and whether it is poured out of the shaker to flavor the food. I believe God's message to us is simple: Let God fill you with His Spirit and then allow Him to pour out your life into this bland, flavorless world. It's not about you or me on the outside as much as it is all about Him on the inside pouring forth His love and grace through you. I must confess, I often feel contented, sitting smuggly along with other "salt shakers of like precious faith!" But that's not what God wants! He has put us here to be "His salt-of-the-earth" servants. "Lord! shake us out of our comfort zone as true salt-of-the-earth followers of Yours! Amen!"