TODAY’S MANNA WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2018. TOPIC: DON’T BETRAY THE SALT

TODAY’S MANNA WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2018

TOPIC: DON’T BETRAY THE SALT
TEXT: MARK 9:42-50
I) THE KEY VERSE: 
“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another” (Mark 9:50).
2) THE TEXT:

(MARK 9: 42 – 50 KJV)
“9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
9:43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
9:44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
9:45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
9:46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
9:47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”
3) THE MESSAGE:
i) The expression “betray the salt” means to betray one’s master or someone who one owes loyalty and devotion. 
ii) Leonardo da Vinci, a leading artist and intellectual of the Italian Renaissance, in his very popular painting of the Last Supper, depicts Judas Iscariot in the act of tipping over the saltshaker, thus identifying himself symbolically as the one who would betray his Master. 
iii) In our passage today, Jesus sets before His disciples the one supreme goal which they must pursue in life and which is worthy of any sacrifice. This goal is to please the Lord in all things. 
iv) The Christian is to live in such a way that his life does not betray this goal. 
v) He must ensure that his life, what he does, the example he gives, and so on do not make other people, especially the weak in faith, to stumble. 
vi) Whatever in the Christian that can become an occasion to sin must be taken away, no matter how precious and valuable it is. 
vii) Being true and faithful to the Master must be valued above every other convenience, ease, comfort or pleasure. Sin must not be tolerated for whatever reason. 
viii) As salt purifies, preserves and penetrates, so ought the Christian to be in his society. 
ix) When the life of a Christian runs contrary to the expected standard and his examples constitute a stumbling block to the faith of others, thus, causing them to fall into sin, then he would be said to be betraying the salt. This kind of life has grievous consequences. 
x) Having been called to be Christians and salt in the world, we must do everything to avoid betraying our calling. The call to live like and follow the Master should be valued above every other thing that may be important and useful to us. 
xi) If those things will cause us to offend and sin, then we must do away with them. Pleasing God should be priced far above any other and every other consideration.
4) THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: 
Following the Lord means being loyal to Him.
5) BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: 
2 SAMUEL 24; 

1 CHRONICLES 21-22; PSALM 30

Good morning