Salt and Fire

`Everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”  Mark 9:49-50 (NIV)

Jesus is on a roll.  He is teaching deep and strong.  His instruction is cutting through all the chaff.  It is getting down to the basics, the base of all we should know of Him and His kingdom.  He is trying to reach our souls.  He would turn our hearts first and foremost to God.  Right in the center-core of our beings He is trying to fix our foundation of faith.  Can we work along with Him?  Can we see that He is trying to ground us and root us in the Lord?  Do we realize that He is speaking of a Spirit?  Could it be a relationship?  Can we see that He is trying to place something inside that will then flow out of our soul and influence all that we do?  Can we say that we feel this burning in our hearts?

Both salt and fire work notable results.  Even a small amount of salt can season the food it comes in contact with.  Fire is even more obvious to see as it consumes, spreads and gives off heat.  Jesus uses terms and matter that are familiar to us humans to show us of spiritual truths.  Is this to bring heavenly ways down to earthly levels?  Or is it attempting to lift our attention higher by giving us something we can understand with which to compare?  Heaven is higher than earth.  Should these truths therefore also be higher than the items we are comparing?

Is it safe to say that our Savior was not talking of white granules which we could spread on food?  Can we take it a step further and see that He is going deeper into our hearts?  Do we realize that He is forever bringing together the Creator and His beloved created beings?  Can we see that this is another attempt to unite us together with Him?  Are we not talking about a living relationship?  Can we feel that He is attempting to engage us in conscious awareness?

What then can we say is this salt?  Could we say that it is His Spirit?  He asks us to have it in us.  Would having that Presence burning within our characters then help us to live in peace with those around us?  Salt is good.  A little bit seasons much.  Is this a wonderful comparison? May we embrace the thought of a spiritual salt within us today?  Could it flavor all that we think, say and do?  Would we be a better dish if the Salt of the Lord were within our souls?

Even better than stopping with the Salt, Jesus goes on to say we will be salted with Fire.  Fire begins as a spark.  But fire burns.  It can be fanned into a raging blaze.  It can consume.  It can smolder.  It gives off heat, lots of heat.  It gives off light.  Often it cannot be contained.  It goes where the wind takes it.  It is a wonder and a beauty.  It also brings a healthy fear.  It must be respected.  Could we say that fire is one of the most beautiful comparisons to the Spirit of God?  The Holy Scriptures use this comparison often.  Would we like to experience it burning within us today?

Dear Jesus, we have tasted the salt of Your word.  Please let it work its wonder in our lives.  Let us be found with Your salt in us.  Let it season everything we are and all it touches.  This would be our prayer today.  But we would not stop there.  You promised to salt us with Fire.  So set that spark alight within us today!  Fan it into a flame, a raging torrent which burns out of love for You!  Let the Spirit consume us, move us, and take us where the Father wills.  Let our flame of love give off warmth and light.  May that spark spread others so that they can have their own Fire with You inside of them.

Amen