How to Be Salty

Ever wonder how to be salty? Keep reading…

Subtle sweetness entices the tip of my tongue.  Contrasting saline taste and crunchy texture mingle with a slightly bitter smokiness as it moves through my mouth.  The beautifully complex taste of a salted dark chocolate covered caramel is one of the sweet things of life.  It’s wildly popular because it activates just about every taste on our tongue-sweet, salty & bitter.  The multiple textures from the large salt crystals, the hard chocolate and chewy caramel make it even more delightful.  I love how the goodness of a dark chocolate covered caramel is elevated with just a touch of salt.

Salt has long been known and used as a flavor enhancer.  It provides that needed something chefs and bakers utilize to make food taste even more delicious. It’s used in sweet as well as savory foods for that very reason.  Salt makes what’s naturally good even better.

Jesus tells us to be salt.  He described it this way to his disciples in Mark 9:50 (NLT):

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”  

Jesus told his disciples (and us) to have qualities of salt. Join Jill Hoven to learn 3 ways to be salty like Jesus at followhisfootprints.org.

How do we have salt among or in ourselves as Jesus described?  Years ago one of our pastors gave a sermon on this very topic.  Pastor Suelflow described it like this:  Jesus calls us to be salt in this world. Salt is not only an enhancer but also used as a preserver and cleanser. Thus as His followers, we are to preserve, enhance and cleanse the world around us. Jesus told his disciples (and us) to have qualities of salt, so let’s review how to be salty.

  • Be a Preserver:  We should treat others with kindness and respect.  Salt preserves the good qualities of whatever it comes in contact with and so should we.  I often wonder if I preserve the good or just point out the bad elements of others.  As Jesus says, we should live in peace with each other.  This means preserving and seeing the best in others, even those closest to or different than us. While not excusing wrong behavior, we can preserve what is good.
  • Be an Enhancer:  We influence others for Christ by the way we live.  Jesus did this every moment of His life and we look to Him as our example.  We point others to Jesus when we live the way He has shown us.  We enhance and bring extra flavor to this world when we make a positive difference in the lives of all those around us.  Our encouragement can bring out the natural goodness of others, just like salt does for food.
  • Be a Cleanser:  As Christians we may not always agree with each other or especially with the ways of this world.  Similar to salt, we can gently cleanse ourselves and others by the way we disagree or admonish one another in areas of concern.  None of us is perfect, but a gentle rebuke may go a long way in helping others grow closer to, not farther away from Christ.

Jesus calls us to be salty.  I often stumble on this path, but I know I can look to Jesus when losing my flavor.  When He needed strength, He went to His Father in prayer.  We can do the same.  Pray to be like the sea salt on the chocolate covered caramel. Let’s preserve, enhance and cleanse the world around us.

I don’t want to blend into this world.  I want to be salty.

Linking up with Suzie Eller at #liveFree, Susan Mead at #DanceWithJesus , Dawn Klinge at #GraceandTruth, Kelly Balarie at #RaRaLinkup,  Holly Barrett at #TestimonyTuesday, Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart  and Crystal Twaddell at #FreshMarketFriday.

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16 thoughts on “How to Be Salty”

    • I would definitely reccommend it as a memory technique to associate the challenge! 😉 Thanks for your thoughts and comments my friend!

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  1. “I don’t want to blend into this world. I want to be salty!” I love this Jill! (I love salted dark caramels too!) Thank you for your tips on how to be salty! I enjoyed your post this morning!

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    • Who doesn’t love salted dark chocolate caramels? Let’s be salty as we live for Jesus! Thanks for your thoughts and stopping by this morning, Cindy! May we all be salty!

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  2. I bought salted chocolate caramel bites in the airport just last night. It hit every spot as it melted in my mouth. I love the image of being both sweet and salty at the same time. <3 Thank you so much for linking up today.

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  3. Crazy! I’m writing a blog post about this right now (going public tomorrow…yikes!)! I’ve been studying through Mark, and when I reached the last few verses of chapter 9, I was confused about what “salt” was meant to imply. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on my questions. Thanks for helping me think about it some here!

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    • You’re welcome and thanks for your thoughts Cheryl! I agree would love to grow in each of these areas-here’s to being salty!

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  4. This is a great illustration and description of salt. I was actually thinking about what it means to be salt earlier today and got distracted. I guess I was meant to read this tonight. My first thought about salt is generally that it is good seasoning, but I love how you mentioned its other uses. It’s not just good; it makes things better. Anything that can make chocolate better is pretty effective if you ask me.

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    • Thanks Courtney-agreed, hard to make chocolate better! Salt does make things better in so many ways. I pray we can all be saltier! Thanks for your thoughts, glad God pointed you this way tonight!

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