equipping a new generation
Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like Christ. Christ calls all of his disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity, and to mature in every area, becoming like him. Those who strive to become perfect will one day be perfect, even as Christ is perfect (1 John 3: 2-3).
NLT Life Application Study Bible, Second Edition. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Study Notes on Mathew 5:48
‘“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.’
The comparison with salt has always been interesting to me. Salt has the properties of a flavor enhancer, a preservative, and it stings in a wound. Likewise, we are to bring out the best in people, encourage the continuation of what is good, knowing that our conduct will be like salt in a wound to those who oppose us. Salt losing it’s saltiness speaks to me of losing your integrity or moral purity. Once that happens, your ability to act as an enhancer and an agent of preservation are compromised. Once compromised, we can’t fulfill our destiny. I don’t think this is to say we can’t be forgiven and have a new start, but the world is slow to forgive and stains on our character follow us, reducing our effectiveness.