A broomstick used to be something that everybody, rich or poor used to have in their house here in Africa. Times are changing now sha. It’s slowly being replaced by brushes and vacuum cleaners.
However, the old-fashioned and archaic broom that lies unused in the corners of our houses can teach us a very important life lesson.
Pick up a broom. Observe the sticks carefully. Are they all equal? Definitely not. Does the inequality make the shorter ones useless? Of course not! Dare to remove the short sticks and see how useless your broom will become.
This teaches us that everyone is important and matter in making the world a better place. The sweepers who make our streets clean matter. The women who sell food items matters. That elderly woman that fries akara daily matters. In the University, the lecturers alone do not make it successful. The security officers matter. The admission officers matter. Those who sell in kiosks matter. Every arm of the society matters.
So don’t belittle yourself if you are a sweeper, akara maker or micro trader today. You can thrive right there. You might not have billions of dollars like Elon Musk or a multi-million naira business like Tony Elumelu. It does not define your worth. You are important!
Without the short sticks of broom, the long ones cannot function. Our society will be dysfunctional if everybody suddenly becomes a CEO or business owner. Therefore, wherever you find yourself, be content. Work hard, aim for the best there and use it as an opportunity to help others.
See, life is in phases. So don’t look down on anyone. The cleaner today can be a rich businessman tomorrow. The junior lecturer today can be a professor tomorrow. Life itself has its way of directing our outcomes, especially if you are a devout Christian.
One of the Bible verses I love so much is Psalm 37:23:
Psalm 37:23: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly.“
It is the foundation of my faith. It’s why I am not pressured no matter how materialistic today’s society is; make it yours too.
Things might not be how you want them to be but know you that God is directing your life, guiding your steps and leading you to your destiny!
Many centuries ago, before the spread of the Gospel throughout the entire globe, certain men carried the Good News to nations and preached Christ without fear. Many of them were executed; some crucified upside down and a few of them plunged in hot oil. All of these were a few of the many trials and persecutions that the early believers endured for the gospel. The martyrdom of Polycarp of Smyrna describes how the fire built around him would not burn him, and that he was finally jabbed to death. Even the Bible we read presently is accessible because of the sacrifices of these Fathers. Men like William Tyndale were burnt alive because they were found translating the Bible into English. I often wonder how so outstanding the Fathers’ faith was that they laid down their lives for the kingdom and for the gospel of Christ to reach the end of the world. Today, unfortunately, the church is filled with infant and unproductive Christians who assume Christianity is about money, cars, cathedrals, and prosperity. The reason is that some present-day churches have failed to teach that the Christian faith is characterized by persecution and trials. Many have failed to realize that our faith will one day be tested, and we would have to either deny Christ or stand up for the one whom we profess as our Lord; in some worse cases, even die for his cause.
The modern Christian faith is deficient in certain areas which is why the faith of the old saints is more remarkable. What are some of these features associated with the old Saints?
They were ready to Give their life for the Gospel. The Fathers were ready to surrender their lives for Him, knowing that a crown of life awaited them. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10).
They had an incredibly strong faith that made them live here on earth with the hope of eternal rewards, unlike many modern Christians who want to reel themselves in the flashy things, the world has to offer. The sobriety the old saints treasured has become old-fashioned for them.
Their Faith was not materialistic. Our Fathers who lived solely for Christ were ready to let go of any worldly attachment for Christ’s sake. For instance, St. Paul forfeited his affluence and lived ordinarily so that he might fulfill the necessities of the Gospel. Not only was their faith not materialistic, but it was also laced with strong persistence even in the face of death. “When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious(BR) and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,(BS) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (BT) 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open(BU) and the Son of Man(BV) standing at the right hand of God.”It is saddening that when some modern believers are tried, they cower in fear and can’t defend what they profess.” Acts 6:54-56.
Over time, some churches have trained the believers to only enjoy receiving from God. When their wishful expectations are no longer met, they lose faith in God.
The Christ’s Doctrine. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3. The Fathers contended for the faith that was delivered to them and opposed any dogma intended to shift the believers’ focus from Christ. They were established in Christ’s doctrine and knew what was accurate and inaccurate.
The ministry of the Word and Prayer. They gave themselves to the study of the Word and prayer. The Fathers were never casual with the Bible. What this means is, whatever the scriptures stood for, they supported. Whatever the scriptures were against, they were against also. They followed the teachings of the Bible until they became living bibles.
Many modern believers choose to modify some precepts of Christ. They further enjoy modified sermons and follow their illusions. It is not they are unaware of their actions but they do this to satisfy their lust. In addition, prayer for them has become something that is rarely practiced.
The Gospel is sacrifice. The fathers in the past offered up themselves so that we can be saved. They showed that trials and persecution are part of true Christianity. They worked hard and are long gone. We are only enjoying what they worked for.
Now that it is our time, how many of us can boast of maintaining the Faith of the Fathers with the same fervency as they did?
On social media, renowned secular artiste David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, requested funds to clear his Rolls Royce from the Port.
The soliciting, which began as a joke, quickly became a phenomenon, as he was able to raise more than 150 million naira. This phenomenon elicited a wide range of reactions on social media.
Below are some reactions:
“Yeah, he’s congratulated. No problem. But if it’s a pastor, you’ll see experts in analogy, exegesis, economic analysis and poverty advocacy.” – Sunny Dickson
‘100 Million donated by Nigerians under an hour for Davido’s birthday. But a mother whose child needs 300k for heart surgery will nearly submit her private part to the public before she can get 150k… I’m not against Davido getting his fun donations, but how much money doesn’t flow this fast on social media when a child from a poor home needs a little change….’ an anonymous follower remarked.
After Obi Cubana, Femi Otedola, and a slew of other business titans made large donations to the music star’s account, a 300-level student at the University of Abuja pleaded with them to assist in paying ‘ASUU’s’ salaries in order to avoid a strike. ‘Strikes have an impact on the social and economic conditions of countries,’ he said. Approximately 70% of Nigerian students have paid their school fees. The funds should be donated to these causes.’
Meanwhile, debates over the ‘correctness’ of Davido’s actions erupted on Facebook’s Christian Community. Several Christian Facebook influencers took advantage of the opportunity to highlight how people find it easy to give to secularism and support the world, but become enraged when the Church requests donations.
‘Davido posted his account number and got donations in millions…. If it’s a pastor, you will be angry. When you have issues, meet Davido to solve it for you. Let Davido heal the sick for you…’ Wesley Kayode Luther commented; Wesley Kayode comments.
His remark, however, drew harsh criticism from some members of the Christian community. Some claimed that Davido’s ability to amass such wealth was due to the ‘value’ attached to him.
One person, Praise Alege, even stated that God was the source of the numerous donations to Davido’s account, saying, ‘No one can receive what God hasn’t given…’
Some Christians also claimed Davido was reaping the benefits of his “good deeds.”
Good deeds which I believe include promoting promiscuity, immoral cultural and family values as well as fighting in public places and exchanging banters with other secular singers.
The trend continues as Nigerians, both Christians and non-Christians, marvel at how a man can raise more than a hundred million naira in a matter of hours and express their thoughts and opinions on it.
The Bible tells us that, ‘there are many vessels in a great man’s house.’ It then emphasizes vessels of honor. Gift Ugochi Christopher, also known as G U C, is a vessel of honor in the Body of Christ today, in my opinion.
His songs have greatly enriched people’s lives both within and outside the borders of this country. Most importantly, they have progressed from being ordinary songs to being channels of revival and healing in people’s lives.
His songs, from ‘All That Matters’ to ‘God of Vengeance’ and his most recent release, ‘Obinigwe,’ all have a dominant theme of consecration, devotion, and absolute reverence to God. Indeed, this man has provided a fresh perspective on the importance of music ministry and music ministers in God’s work.
I was particularly stunned by the testimonies I found on his Facebook page this morning.
14 YEARS OF CANCER DISAPPEARED! After three days of listening to his song, this cancer patient testified that the cancer was gone and the wound was healing naturally!
“My neighbor has been down for three days now,” said someone who identified as Favour. “I downloaded your latest song, Obinigwe, and as I played it near him in the hospital, his fingers started to move,” he added. The testimony, however, does not end there. ‘When I stopped the song, he (my friend) passed out again,’ says Favour. So I played the song again, and he started moving. ‘His eyes have opened!’
One of the most moving testimonies I heard was from a fellow whose brother died this morning. However, as the person pondered what to do, the song ‘Obinigwe’ came to mind. The song was downloaded and played in front of the lifeless brother, who immediately came back to life.
The testimonies are numerous and continue to pour in. I believe in GUC’s abundance of God’s grace, but I also believe he is a man who has taken music beyond songwriting and song release. The calibre of testimonies received by a song; raising the dead, healing cancer, saving lost souls, and so on, speaks volumes about the intense spiritual preparations made prior to its release. Despite being released on his YouTube channel, the song has been uploaded on several blogs.
I believe that God is using these testimonies to send a message to aspiring and up and coming music ministers. This is the impact the Holy Spirit wishes to make through Gospel music! Through your music, he wishes to heal, bless, and impart souls. He desires spiritual songs that will minister to the souls of those who hear them. Make it your goal to walk with the Holy Spirit all the way to this point.
Finally, the Bible tells us that God is fair to everyone. He can do for one what He can do for the other. Do you have any need? Healing, deliverance, and so on? God has the ability to minister to you. Download and get lost in the song’s worship of God and trust God for your miracle!
One of the trending issues of the 21st century is abortion – the intentional termination of a pregnancy. In time past, this term was considered illegal and a taboo. Even mentioning the word used to be seen as a desecration of humanity.
However, towards the ending of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the world began to experience a ‘reawakening’. A revolution similar to the Renaissance revolution of humanism was birthed. Things previously seen as abomination were seen as human rights.
Things worsened when the U.S Supreme Court made a precedent and ruling that abortion was a human right. Defenders of this ruling usually say that a woman has a right to her body.
Unfortunately, this movement is slowly sneaking into the church. Our girls are losing sense of the consequence of premarital sex and the sacredness of carrying a baby in the womb, because the foetus can be flushed out at her will.
Nonetheless, God’s word on abortion stands true!
But there’s no mention of abortion in the Bible?
Although, there’s no explicit mention of abortion in the Bible, several places in the Bible show that God recognizes the foetus in a woman’s womb as a separate living entity.
1. Psalm 139:13: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (NIV)
Though a man and woman need to conjugate in order for a fetus to be produced, God is the supreme maker of even that foetus. The physical features may be inherited from the man and woman, but the soul that makes the foetus a living being comes from God.
Therefore, it is not the mother’s property. Her body might be her property, but not the baby in it. The baby belongs to God! She is only a carriage or an incubator for the baby. Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”(NIV)
2. Psalm 139:16: Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (NIV)
Some believe God doesn’t care for unborn children – that isn’t true. God cares for the unborn children as much as he cares for the birthed ones. There is no child in a woman’s womb without a destiny ordained by God. Even while they’re in the belly of their mother, dependent on her for nutrition, the Lord has already ordained their purpose and destiny in life.
3. Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (NIV)
As previously stated, God has a destiny for every child, born or unborn. They are set apart for His special purpose. That an unborn child is unwanted by his parents does not mean he is not wanted by God.
From these three profound scriptures, we see that God fully recognizes what we call ‘foetus’ as humans. Therefore, if they are humans, why would we describe terminating their lives as ‘women right’.
Why infringe one’s right to exercise your right? I think it is very ironic that we see abortion as women right, yet, we see the killing of children as murder. It only points to her confused and misguided this generation is.
Thus, the church must not be silent on an issue like this. Men and women alike must be taught to face the consequences of their decisions. If we keep silent on an issue like abortion, the left-winged media will keep deceiving ignorant girls on the streets and putting them through a process that God gravely condemns.
Romans 12:1 tells us not to be conformed to the ways of the world. The strength of the Church is in her uniqueness. Our victory is in the peculiarity of our faith and not in our conformity to worldly standards.
We might adopt their technology. We might use their gadgets. But we must be careful not to conform to their culture. Our words must not be like theirs – ours must be seasoned with the Grace of God that dwells in us.
Our lifestyles must be unique from theirs. We must be consecrated unto God. Until the Church restores her culture of uniqueness, she will remain powerless.
We now live in a world where the pivotal purpose of existence has turned from living for eternity to living for vanity.
As a result of this, men have become desperate for wealth and in their desperation, illegitimate businesses have become a norm.
Here in Africa, there has been an increase in the number of youths who engage in Internet fraud; it has become a social convention and has even dubbed ‘yahoo’.
Folks who engage in this chain of fraud seem to earn a lot of profit from it. They drive expensive cars and live extravagantly. This flaunting and extravagant life is also like the scent of sugar that drives men like ants to engage in it as well.
However, as believers, we must be resolute in our decision not to engage in such mischievous act.
Both Bible history and recent history has taught us that we can prosper as believers through legitimate businesses. The likes of Oprah Winfrey, Don Won Chang, Strive Masiyiwa etc, have proven this.
Thus, we must be careful not to keep our eyes focused on making a living legitimately and not fraudulently. This is because;
ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH WILL END IN SHAME:
Proverbs 21:6: The riches you get by dishonesty soon disappear, but not before they lead you into the jaws of death.
My father once told me of a very wealthy elder who once lived in his village. This elder had lots of houses, cars, trucks etc. He lacked nothing. He was also influential and was among the most revered elders in the village.
However, before his exit, he called my father – at this time, my father was still a teenager, and began to counsel him.
‘He showed me his great wealth and narrated the story of how he achieved all he achieved. Then he looked at me with pain in his heart and said, “Don’t ever get into the occult”’ My father said to me.
‘He told me how he got into the occult because of his desperation to be wealthy. But in the occult, he lost his wife, he lost his peace of mind; and all his children are living a wasted life. And then he said to me, “Don’t chew meat that is very sweet but will eventually cause your gum to bleed”’ my father recalled.
The story of this elder is an illustration on how the life of those who use ungodly means to get wealth will be.
Like Ahab, they might be lucky to escape judgment here, but their children will suffer for their sins, and the flames of hell will also eagerly anticipate their arrival.
Here’s another text that further illustrates this;
Micah 2:1 How terrible it will be for you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry out any of the wicked schemes you have power to accomplish.
Micah 2:2 When you want a certain piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence…
Micah 2:3 But this is what the Lord says: “I will reward your evil with evil; you won’t be able to escape! After I am through with you, none of you will ever again walk proudly in the streets.”
GOD PROSPERS
Strive Masiyiwa, one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs, started his business with just $75 according to Arrow Leadership and followed Biblical principles of prosperity. Here’s his story;
“Like most business owners Masiyiwa faced hardships along the way. He requested a license to cellular frequencies from the Robert Mugabe government. Mugabe refused to grant a license, claiming he had potential for becoming a monopoly. Masiyiwa sued the government. Almost immediately, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court ruled against him, leaving seemingly no chance for appeal. It appeared his dreams of a pan-African mobile network were doomed.
It was then that his wife convinced him to go to church with her.
Masiyiwa recalls, ‘It seemed as though everyone in the room except me was so happy! The young American pastor was preaching about Jesus Christ, whom I thought I had known all my life. Now I realized that I did not know Him; I only knew of Him.” That moment changed everything for him. He borrowed a second-hand Bible, and read the entire thing in two weeks, committing his life (and business) fully to Christ.
With renewed determination, he dove back into the fight against the Mugabe government. Five years, and thousands of prayers later, Masiyiwa was granted the license and the means to grow a mobile technology company.
Today, Econet Wireless, operates in more than 15 countries and enjoys a majority share of Zimbabwe users. The company began offering mobile banking, and within 18 months, some 20 percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP was passing through its networks.
If his story ended here, it would be a powerful testament to the strength of Christ in the lives of businesspeople who are fully committed. But over the years Masiyiwa has grown into one of the most prolific philanthropists in Africa and around the world. As part of the The Giving Pledge, Masiyiwa spends nearly as much time and money giving back as he does growing Econet Wireless. He is the co-founder of the Capernaum Trust, a Christian charity that sponsors the education of over 28,000 Zimbabwean orphans, he founded the environmental group the Carbon War Room with Sir Richard Branson, and sits on countless boards from Grow Africa to organizations leading the charge against HIV/AIDS and Ebola.”
Being a teacher exposes one to different flavors of people – both children and adults. Having taught in over five schools in my lifetime, I have experienced these unique characters even among my co-workers.
I have seen how talented teachers fell simply because of the lack of character and self control. I almost became a victim of this years ago.
I was teaching in Primary 3 class – a class I’ll describe as my least favorite class. It was my least favorite class because it comprised mainly pupils who had very little academic intelligence and interests.
Only a few were interested in learning. However, I do not hold the kids responsible for this; it’s common situation amongst African homes. I normally checked their notes on Fridays.
On one of the Fridays, I came across the notebooks of one of my pupils there. It looked very rough and scanty. This only meant that the boy hadn’t been following in class works.
At this realization, anger flared up within me. Anger at the fact that despite all the topics I had laboured to teach on, this kid made no effort to put them in his notebook.
In my anger, I put a slap across his face. Ignoring his pale look and pleas that he was ill, I proceeded to flog him severely.
That little boy eventually suffered a convulsion in class that same day. It took the quick and expertise attention of the teachers to resuscitate him and bring him back to order.
As I recall the event, I ask myself ‘What if the boy could not be resuscitated. What would have been my fate?’ was the question that haunted me for the following few days.
It was only then I understood why the Bible admonishes us to keep our tempers under control {Eccl. 7:9}.
Just as I was with kids who had some annoying proclivities, one might be surrounded by folks who intentionally want to get on one’s nerves. But one must be mature enough to tame his anger.
Until a believer learns how to tame his anger, he will remain an easy tool in the hands of Satan. His anger will become a weakness; and it will be very easy for the enemy to influence his actions.
Furthermore, the consequences of acting on anger can be see from the life of Moses. Just when he was on the verge of entering the promised land, he was angered by the murmurings of the Jews; he acted by impulse and faced the consequences.
From Moses’ story, we learn that though we have no control on how we are spoken to, we bear full responsibility for how we respond.
Therefore, as mature believers and members of the society, let us follow the 2 Don’ts of Anger;
– Don’t speak
– Don’t act
It was Jefferson who said that ‘anything done in anger will end in shame’ Bierce added his, ‘Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you can ever regret’.
Though this seems to be hard and unnatural, especially to those who have inherent anger propensities.
However, through determination and the help of the Holy Spirit, everything in possible.
What do I do when I’m angry?
1. When you are at the verge of acting in rage, speak and project calmness to your soul. David did this whenever he was anxious {Psalm 42:11}.
2. Don’t act yet.
3. Cool off.
4. Identify the root cause of the anger.
5. Analyse the situation from a neutral perspective.
The story of Samson’s miraculous conception is one that will forever be known in Christian history. It is a story that reminds us of how a barren old woman with a withering womb gave birth to one of the most powerful Jewish leaders in history.
However, there is more to the story of Samson’s conception than many realize – this more is what I intend to reveal through this lesson.
Firstly, let us study the background of the text. Israel is in a state of turmoil, confusion and oppression. She has abandoned her Creator and has gone back to her evil ways. The nation is void of light as well as life, and there is no one to deliver them.
Israel is left to the wishes of her enemies – the Philistines. They oppress and torment them until they begin to cry to God for help once again.
Somehow, I find a connection between the state of Israel in the text and the state of Nigeria presently.
We are in a state of turmoil and confusion. We are in a season of weeping and Groaning. Oppression has become the norm. Banditry has become the order of the day. The destiny of the nation has been hijacked by the men in power. There is no light – both physically and in the context of development and wealth.
We are in dire need of a saviour, just like Israel was in need of a saviour. Israel was in need of someone who would stand up for their rights and ensure a better future for them.
Who would this person be?
In Judges 13, the narrator takes a detour from describing the general state of Israel to telling us about a family – a family that consisted of the old, frail voice of the father and the loving voice of the wife but no cries and excited screams of children. It wasn’t because their children were asleep, it was because they had no children.
The narrator says they were barren. Manoah’s wife was barren and was incapable of having a child. That was what everyone called her – barren.
However, a twist occurs in the plot. An angel appears to her and tells her that her barren womb will soon become an incubator for Israel’s future judge.
The significance of the woman’s encounter with the angel is that though she was called barren, her ‘barren’ womb became the incubator of what would save Israel.
Dear Nigerian, American, Ghanaian, whatever your country may be, you are the incubator of the seed that will deliver your nation.
It doesn’t matter the label men might have placed on you – poor, broke, wretched, useless etc. The Bible tells us that we are born of an incorruptible seed, this seed of Christ in you if allowed to nurture can blossom into a light for the world.
Have they called you foolish? The Bible says God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.
Have they called you ‘nothing’ – the Bible tells us God creates big things from nothing.
It does not matter the label they’ve given to you, God has chosen you to be the source of hope and light to this generation.
As Manoah’s wife’s womb seemed incapable of producing something valuable, you might have been described as incapable of being the light your nation needs. Do not despair! Barren women still give birth and good things still come from Nazareth!
How can I be so sure of this? God’s Word says so. In the days of Manoah, there was no Bible, so God had to use angels. But God has made his word available to us to make us realize that we are useful.
But what puzzles me further about our text is not that Manoah’s wife gets a revelation of the potential seed in her womb, but that she also gets specific instructions on how to nurture her seed and ensure it thrives {Judges 13:3-5}
Proverbs 4:4 “Take my words to heart. Follow my instructions and you will live.”
Proverbs 4:13 “Carry out my instructions; don’t forsake them. Guard them, for they will lead you to a fulfilled life.”
Be aware that we are in the midst of a society that is against Christianity and all it has to offer. We are under a government that is similar to that of Herod who sought to kill the light of the world.
In times like this, we must be careful to hear what God is saying, because it’s only in the instruction of God that can be protected.
Joseph was able to save and nurture his baby into maturity by the instruction of the angel.
In order for the dream that you’re pregnant with to become a reality, you must be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Him alone can lead you to the place of safety.
It is in the instructions of God to us that we discover the uniqueness of our calling. Even as the Manoahs were banned from feeding Samson with ‘forbidden food’, there are things the peculiarity of our calling prohibits.
Thus, like Manoah, we must continually ask God ‘for instructions about this’ dream that He has given to us.
Conclusively, there is no nation so dark that God cannot light up. There’s no race so low that God cannot lift. But He works with men. And that’s why He had chosen to use you for your nation.
You carry in you the seed for national exploits. Discover it and harness it.
Frankly speaking, cooking is the last on the list of things I like doing. I don’t like cooking and for that reason, I’m can hardly be found in the kitchen.
However, things changed when I rented my own apartment and started living alone. I had to compel myself to cook my own lessons. One of the foods I quickly mastered is Beans and Plantain Porridge.
One day, I prepared it so delicately with the spices available. When the porridge was cooked, I was so pleased with its scent and outlook.
But the grin on my face quickly faded was I tasted the food. It tasted bland.
Then I recalled that I hadn’t put salt in the food. This realization struck me – the realization that in spite of all the spices I added to the food it remained bland until salt was added.
As soon as the salt was added, the taste was restored and it was edible again.
This invaluable significance of salt is the reason Jesus used it in describing believers.
When He described us as the Salt of the Earth, He meant we are the ones that will restore God’s original nature and flavour to humanity.
1. Salt adds taste
Just as salt is used to add taste to food, Jesus expects believers to add value to people’s lives.
Jesus expects us to be the source of hope and joy to troubled hearts. He expects us to be motivation to a depressed world. He expects us to be instruments of edification.
Believers ought to be fountains of hope for folks of different races to come and draw from. We are supposed to be so endowed with heavenly graces and fragrance, that no one spends time with us and remains depressed or down casted.
Instead, by conversing with us, men receive inspiration to pursue that which God has called them to do.
2. Salt gets rid of corruption
Salt is used to preserve food and prevent its corruption. Likewise, God expects believers to be instruments to get rid of the corruption prevalent in men through the preaching of the Gospel.
In Romans 12:1, we are admonished to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. This simply means that God desires for men to live for Him here on Earth. However, God will not accept the life sacrifices of men that are full of corruption.
Thus, in Mark 9:15, Jesus said, “every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.”
The only way we can make men presentable and acceptable to the Lord is salvation. We must make it our duty to bring the good news of Christ to people.
Paul described the Gospel of Christ as ‘the power of God’ unto salvation. This mighty power of God is the only antidote against sin and moral decay that exists in humanity.
It is through preaching God’s Word that we dispense our seasoning to the world.
CAN A SALT LOSE IT’S TASTE?
This is one of the strongest metaphors in scriptures. It seems quite difficult to understand because in literal sense, a salt can almost-never lose its taste, because it is the taste that makes it salt.
However, Jesus as a warning to believers for us to lead holy and God-fearing lives to avoid being like a salt that has lost its flavour.
A believer can lose the divine flavour and influences in him if such believer continually lives in sin. He can also lose it if he decides to live in carnality. Such believer is not useful to the Kingdom.
Jesus said such believer will be trampled upon – this means he/she will be a slave to the wishes of the world and Satanic agents.
Believers are meant to be rulers and folks with authority to trample over serpents and scorpions {representing satanic and his cohorts}.
However, if such believer casts off Divine influences and conforms to the world, he will lose his usefulness in the kingdom and become an easy prey.
Jesus’ metaphor further reveals that there are two kinds of salt, – The useful one – The worthless one
Which do you desire to belong to?
What differentiates a salt from every other spice is its flavour. When this flavour is gone, the salt will lose its uniqueness.
Thus, Jesus was also trying to teach believers to hold onto the lifestyles and beliefs that makes us unique and distinct from the world.
Paul reiterated this in Romans 12:2 when he instructed the Church to avoid conforming to the world’s pattern.
If we adopt the world’s morally debased system of living, we will lose the divine flavor that makes us separate and unique amongst them.
The conclusion of this is that the consciousness of our salt-like nature and responsibilities must never leave our minds. We must live with it and live by it.
KOINONIA ART 