Stay Salty

““You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬

My devotion this morning by Paul David Tripp from New Morning Mercies was very powerful. He posed the question “does God set people apart for ministry?” The great commission found in Matthew 28:20 says “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Yes, this message was to the disciples, but it was also to the church.

Paul David Tripp went on to write “ part of our problem is that we tend to carry around with us, a biblical definition of ministry that allows us to live comfortably as Christian consumers. We think of ministry this way: we have a private life that belongs to us, and we step out of our lives into moments of ministry, and then step back into our lives after this ministry initiatives are over. The fact of the matter is since we have been bought with the blood of Jesus, our lives don’t belong to us anymore. They are His possession for His use. This means our life is ministry and ministry is our life. There is no separation. It means we love, work, relate, play and relax with a ministry mentality. It means I’m always thinking about how to be part of what God is doing in the locations where he places me.”

I like to think that God has complete access to my life. I do see my career as my ministry, and use the opportunities He places before me for His Kingdom purpose. Yet outside of that and specific moments of ministry, I have not viewed in this light. Often times I fall back more on my clinical training than I do Holy Spirit’s spiritual guidance when I am outside of those two ministry moments.

Salt doesn’t chose the moments that it is salty. It either is or it isn’t. This Scripture points out that when it no longer is salty it is useless. By not walking in the acknowledgement that every moment could be ministry, I become useless. To stay salty, I need to be available for God’s use. My time always available for God’s opportunities. The skills, abilities, talent, knowledge and experience is meant to be obediently available to Him. God wants us to stay salty!

Lord, thank you for grace and forgiveness when I have failed to stay available to You. Thank You for reminding me ministry is a lifestyle not an event. Help me to stay available and to stay salty!