Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 14 : 25-34 "A CRYPTIC PHRASE... "SALT IS GOOD..." Luke 14:34"
Day 187 – Luke 14
Text: Luke 14 : 25-34
A CRYPTIC PHRASE… “SALT IS GOOD…” Luke 14:34
From time to time, Jesus would use phrases that would challenge the most intelligent listener. This was one of those times. He saw the great multitudes following Him. He appreciated their effort in following Him, but that was not enough!
A number of things may be listed as “good…”
1. It was good that the great multitudes followed Jesus.
2. It was good that they listened to Him as He preached.
3. It was good that they turned to Him for divine mercy. There were many who brought relatives and friends to Jesus for healing.
BUT… was that enough? Jesus’ closing statement was difficult to comprehend.
“SALT IS GOOD; BUT IF THE SALT HAS LOST ITS FLAVOUR…” Luke 14:34
Jesus really wanted to encourage the people who made the great multitude to take one more step – to express faith in Him by becoming His Disciples! However, many stayed in their comfort zones� in the safety of the great multitudes.
Somehow, Jesus thought of salt, and how it could lose its flavour! The idea of salt suggests the following…
1. It had a distinctive taste.
2. It played a positive role in the treatment of wounds.
3. It was used in a number of practical ways, such as the flavouring of food, or in the preserving of perishable food.
The multitude may well be compared with salt that had lost its flavour. There was nothing distinctive about the multitude. They made no positive impact on society. They were of no practical use to anybody, as they stood.
If they had become Disciples, they could indeed be compared to salt. They would stand out distinctively as the Disciples of the Lord Jesus. They would play very significant roles in society. They could bring about rich blessings to those that heard their message.
“IF THE SALT HAS LOST ITS FLAVOUR, HOW SHALL IT BE SEASONED?” Luke 14:34
Did the multitudes understand what Jesus was driving at? How did they see themselves? Did they think that they were “quite all right” because they were following Jesus?
Jesus had to alert them to the danger of becoming like salt that had lost its flavour! If they were contented to merely hear but not respond to the many appeals of Jesus to become His Disciples, they could end up being like salt that had lost its flavour!
If salt had indeed lost its flavour, how would it get its distinct flavour back? Did the people who made up the multitude understand what Jesus was actually teaching? He had taught so clearly. He had displayed such power when He healed the sick, and when He had cast out demons. How could the multitude not decide to believe in Jesus as the Saviour? How could they hold back from becoming His Disciples?
“IT IS NEITHER FIT FOR THE LAND NOR FOR THE DUNGHILL, BUT MEN THROW IT OUT…” Luke 14:35
The thrust of this strong statement is found in the last part of the sentence… “Men throw it out…” That is an obvious consequence. Salt that had lost its flavour has no more use or function! It is fit for nothing! It is thrown away as something of absolutely no value!
“HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR…” Luke 14:35
The people who made up the multitude had probably not thought through carefully enough about the problem of their lack of response, their lack of commitment to the Lord Jesus. This problem of a lack of definite commitment is still very real and prevalent!
Jesus had to challenge the people to think through what He said with a great sense of sobriety! Those who have ears to hear must hear well! Quite obviously, the multitude was not hearing very well at all, despite the fact that they had been following Jesus!
HAVE YOU ACTED ON WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?
Many had heard Jesus preach the Word of God. However, they had not responded to His words much! Those who had not responded appropriately may well be called “salt that had lost its flavour”!
The problem that Jesus highlighted to His hearers is also a problem that we must address today! Today there are many who attend Church but have been content only to be part of the multitude. They have made no firm decision to be Disciples of the Lord Jesus!
Many imagine that they possess faith. Others believe that they are already saved. They show little or no concern about living out a life that involved cross-bearing! This was part of the mind-set of the multitudes! They couldn’t be more wrong! Do we have the same mindset as that of the multitudes?
“FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” James 2:20
Let us take time to read another portion of Scripture that warns us about the false separation of “faith” and “works”. There came a time in the New Testament Church when people needed to hear tough words. James, a key leader in the Jerusalem Church wrote a strong letter to emphasize an important truth.
“O foolish man… faith without works is dead…
For as the body without the spirit is dead,
So faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:20, 26
Can we be called “Disciples of Christ” ? Have we taken up the challenge of the Lord Jesus to count the cost and decide that we want to take up our cross and follow Him?