Please Don't Pass the Salt!

S - "Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. … “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”" (Mark 9:5-8, 50 NIV)

O - Jesus stands alone … i.e. he is the first, the priority, the way, the truth and the life. Peter was trying to harmonize the three (Moses, Elijah and Jesus).  The voice from heaven halts this process in its tracks.  "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Moses and Elijah take their rightful place, in the background.  They are not and never were the point.  Jesus always was and always will be the point.  He gives them their significance and rightful place in the Kingdom -- not the other way around.  He (Jesus) draws attention to the most important person we are to influence; the most important person to reach with all that is true. Have salt among or within your selves.  It is always the beam out of my own eye first … Jesus leads the way in 2X4ology. Heaven coaches us all: "Listen to him!"

A - Jesus is the message -- he is the point and the message heaven sends to earth, to all people.  He wants me to get and keep the beam out of my own eye; to accept that no matter where I am or whom I am with the most important person for me to reach or influence is ALWAYS me.  He's not asking me to concentrate on being salt "for" or "in" another but for and in myself.  If I fail to accept this as my focus and priority I will fall prey to the one tragic dynamic he consistently warns against -- the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy.  If I'm cooperating with him reaching me then I can be assured he will also be reaching through me to the benefit of others. The sign of such salt is being with at peace with each other.  Amazing … I will listen to and follow him.

P - Lord,

Thank you taking away from us the burden to build three booths … to work at trying to accommodate and harmonize everything.  I accept that you call all people to come to you and find rest from all the realities of earth (secular and religious) which exhaust us.  You are amazing and I am so grateful to be loved and wanted by you.  I admit my need of help (not self-help) … unto salt in myself and being at peace with all.

Living and praying in Jesus' Name,

Steve