Mark 9:50b

“Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

Salt across the centuries has had many uses. It was used to preserve and season foods and for its medicinal qualities. In Roman times the soldiers were paid in salt.That is where the word salary came from. When you hear the expression “he’s not worth his salt” it refers to the payment in salt that was received.

I once heard a preacher use a wonderful illustration. He said something like this: “While it is true that you can lead a horse to water, you can’t make him drink — but you can salt his oats!” I cannot begin to tell you the number of times I have thought of that illustration since first hearing it.

Some of us in Christian ministry wear ourselves out trying to force people to drink when they show no inclination to want to drink. We may even heap on guilt or dire predictions of consequences, but there are still no slurping sounds.

What is the answer? SALT THE OATS! Right! How do we do that? We do it by creating a desire for more of the reality of God’s Word. Are we salting the oats of those we minister to? Are we creating such a desire that people thirst to drink from God’s well that never runs dry?

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil