I love to cook. The two things that I love to cook most are eggs for breakfast and BBQ. Come to think about it, that’s all one really needs in life. A good breakfast and a whole lot of BBQ. Well, maybe coffee, we definitely  need coffee as well. A good cup of black coffee or a latte does set off the perfect breakfast. I have a sign hanging on the wall in my coffee room that says “All I need is a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus” How true is that!
Whether or not you love to cook everyone loves to eat. Think about a time when you sat down and had the perfect meal. Now answer these questions. Were you alone, with someone or with a group? Were you inside or outside in a perfect setting? What time of day was it what was the lighting like? Now that you’re there, what did you have to eat?
When we have a great meal, the eggs are just right and the bacon is the perfect crispness or maybe the brisket has the perfect smoke ring and the texture of the bark is perfectly pliable and it is has been kissed by smoke for over 12 hours. If you’re not drooling just a bit I think there may be something wrong with you at this point.
Now think about the worst meal you have ever had. Was it the atmosphere, the company, or was it in fact the food?
When I think back to some of my worst meals. It’s easier to think about the ones that I’ve cooked then the ones I’ve had eating out. They usually get off track by the seasonings. I can’t tell you how many dishes have been ruined by bad seasonings. If a dish is not seasoned enough, that’s a pretty easy fix. You can add some salt pepper or whatever you like, but if a dish is too salty, you can wreck the flavor and the evening in an instant. There are very very few ways to come back from a dish that’s too salty.
The same goes for our relationships and our lives. take a look at this passage out of Matthew chapter 5.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16 NIV
Have you ever wondered why Jesus wrote this? This passage is taken out of what’s called the sermon on the mount. It’s probably one of the most famous messages that Jesus gave and it’s chock full with important things we need live a productive daily life, and a productive Christian life. Because of the society that we live in and the culture that we are apart of, if you are a Christ follower, we will want to pay attention to what this small section of Jesus’ message teaches us.
I’m sure you’re aware of todays political climate (if you’re not then you’ve been living in a cave or under a rock) but you know that there is no shortage of opinions, facts, noise, and passion to just about any topic you want to bring up.
The question for the day is…….
If you are a Christ follower, what do you do with the information you have and where you live? Especially when just about any conversation you have is seasoned with political policy or opinion in one way or another. I need you to stay with me now. I am not talking about any policy or any opinion you may have no matter where you stand. I want to warn you, no encourage you, that in any relationship or conversation you have today or in the next month. The most important thing you have to watch for is the seasoning. The seasoning of Jesus in your attitude, opinion, and what you say to others.
Let’s talk about salt and light. When you think about light there are a couple of things to know. First, there is no such thing as dark. Dark does not exist. It is only the absence of light. You cannot add more dark to make a room darker but instead you take the light away. Think back to the great meal you had or a great conversation you had with a friend. Whether you realized it or not light had a lot to do with it. If the light is right, say a candle lit romantic dinner or a bright arena so the perfect pass is caught for a touchdown. Lighting is very important. When you’re having a conversation or an important business deal you need to see the facial reactions to the one you are talking to. If it’s to dark you are left searching for what their reaction is and if you are talking to someone and there is a laser pointer in your eyes you are so distracted that the words of the conversation no longer matter. Right?
You know where I’m going here. The same goes for the light of your relationship with Jesus. If you’re too dim, the conversation the passion, and the point can often get missed. However, if you are too bright like a laser pointer, it doesn’t matter what you have to say or what you are about, the encounter will be ruined. Jesus is the light of the world and it is your job to adjust the brightness of your bulb in each relationship and conversation you are a part of. The bulb is not the light it is the carrier of the light. It’s not so people can see you but so they can see the light.
The same goes for food. Jesus is the salt of the world and you are the carrier. You can be the steak, the brisket, the soup, or the sauce. But you are just the chief of the flavor not the flavor itself. If you don’t have enough salt the conversation….oh excuse me, the soup will be bland and no one will want to listen to it or eat of it. The same is true if you come on too strong, the salt may be the perfect substance and there is nothing wrong with it but if you bring it on too strong it will ruin a dish and no one will care if your a great chef or not, you’ve lost a customer.
Be aware of your seasoning. Remember that you are only adding seasoning. Let it work for you and not against you.
By the way, if your soup gets too salty you only have two choices. Throw it out or add a little sugar. That will counter act something that is too salty. Oh boy, you may have to be sweet to counter act your salty disposition. That sounds an awful lot like love……but that is for another time.
The question for the day.
Do you tend to be too bright and salty or too dim and bland when it comes to how others see Jesus in you?
Have a great day!
-Bryan
ETHOS 4 LIFE 