TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED

To This You Were Called

1 Peter 2:21

We've all heard that limiting our salt intake is a great thing.  There are salt-free diets that many people have to follow for their health, and all of us are encouraged not to over-consume salt. 

However, as believers, we are to be "salty"; the saltier the better!  Jesus says in Matthew 5:13, "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 by men."  Salt is a flavor-enhancing spice; it is also a preservative and a healing agent.  Salt melts and hardens ice for ice-cream making and protects our cars from sliding around on icy roads.  All of these salt characteristics can be applied to our spiritual lives:

1) Believers are to live such good lives that unbelievers notice how "flavorful"     our lives are with God. 

2) Our "saltiness" should help heal spiritual wounds in others. 

3) Unbelieving hearts need to "melt" at the Word of God we bring to them, and then help them to "harden" against evil. 

4) And, our "salty" witness brings the protection of the Holy Spirit to the unregenerate against this dangerous and slippery world. 

Now, I know some of these examples are a stretch of the imagination, but we understand that we are to be so "salty" that we are all those things to the unbelieving world around us.  So, get out your salt-shakers and start sprinkling!

As I come to this passage in 1 Peter 2, I'm thinking of the salt that is to be part of my life.  Peter says, "To this you were called . . ." He is speaking of suffering for the cause of Christ and my example is the suffering of Christ Himself.  (vs.21-25) But I wonder now what kind of suffering he is talking about.  If I look at the previous verses, 11-20, I get an idea.

These "salty" behaviors are to be present in my life:

·         Abstain from sinful desires. (11)

·         Live such a good life that it is noticed by unbelievers. (12)

·         Submit to every authority God places in my life. (13-15)

·         Live in freedom without using that freedom as a license for evil.  (16) 

·         Live as a servant of God.  (16)

·         Show proper respect to everyone.  (17)

·         Love believers.  (17)

·         Fear God.  (17)

·         Honor the governing authorities as under God's authority.  (17)

·         Be submissive to my employer, even if my employer is not fair or is ungodly.  (18)

·         Live with an awareness, a "consciousness", of God's work in my life.  (19)

·         Endure righteous suffering with grace and forbearance.  (20)

·         Endure suffering as Jesus did; look to Him as my example.  (21)

·         Commit to holiness when called to suffer for righteousness.  (22)

·         Do not retaliate when mistreated or insulted for my faith.  (23)

·         Make no threats.  (23)

·         Entrust myself to God when called to suffer.  (23)

·         In my suffering, recall that I am healed by Christ's suffering for me.  (24)

·         Consider that Christ's suffering enables me to die to my sins and live for righteousness.  (24)

·         Consider that His suffering on the cross and separation from His Father brought me back to the "Shepherd and Overseer" of my soul.  (25)

Is it possible that if all these were present in my life, I would experience more suffering for righteousness' sake?  It's almost embarrassing that I don't suffer more!  I certainly don't suffer like Jesus suffered; I don't even experience suffering like many Christians around the world.  But to this I am called. 

I can't help but think that if I lived my life as Peter describes here, if I committed wholeheartedly to holy living, no compromises, no excuses, and if I allowed God to do His best in me instead of me just doing my best for God, there would be a whole lot more suffering going on in my life.  But that suffering would bring a harvest of righteousness and peace in my life; and it would bring many more people back to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls.  And isn't that what the Christian life is all about?

 

"Father, make me salty!  I give myself now into Your

Hands to work Your best in me.

May I be molded into all You want; please use me

As You see fit.  May I hold nothing back from You.

Please help me to work hard at being salty, digesting

Your Word until it becomes my bones and blood and skin.

I pray that others around me would see only You in me,

And that my life would be a testament to Your

Loving-kindness, grace and mercy."