“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:34-35 KJV).
Our Lord Jesus shows the multitude, with these illustrative passages, that if they rely on their own strength to follow Him, rather than receiving His grace, they become like flavorless salt—ineffective and unable to abide in their life of discipleship. We should note that when the Lord Jesus spoke of "giving up everything" (vv. 26-33), He was addressing a large, self-righteous crowd (vv. 25) who thought they could follow Him in their own effort and volition.
When men and women attempt to live for our Lord Jesus based on their own rules and abilities, they lose their saltiness—the "flavor" of grace, this analogy says. We are called to rest in the Lord’s grace so as to avoid becoming "flavorless". Our posture is not trying harder, but to recognize and yield that discipleship in our Lord Jesus is impossible without the supply of His grace by faith in Him.
As the Lord’s true disciples, we are thus seasoned as we hear to be nourished by the Word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). He is the Word (John 1:1; 14) and the bread of life that we take - like the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. In one of His teachings to the crowd that follow Him, it is written the Lord “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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