Discipleship: Attributes of salt - 2

Continuing our study on the attributes of salt in conjunction with Christ's directive that His disciples should be salt to their world.

Salt Melts Coldness
Delivering newspapers as a boy living in North Dakota, I can attest to the value of salt spread over an icey sidewalk. Twenty to thirty below zero with three feet of snow at 6 a.m. was miserable, but that same snow, melted and then frozen was devastating – until salt was spread over the ice. Salt melts ice.

Salt softens (melts) a hard heart. A hard heart is usually a sign of bitterness (anger allowed to spend the night - usually many nights.) A calm, gentle, humble spirit can melt the hard heart of an embittered friend or neighbor.
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Salt Heals wounds
Many years ago I consulted with a medical doctor for a severe sinus infection. His instruction to me was to mix salt with warm water and squirt it up my nose – three times a day. It worked. Whenever there is nasal congestion in our house, we “snarf.” Salt is a healer.

The disciple of Christ is to bring healing to his environment. Praying for and encouraging others. Creating a safe place in which people can bare their wounds for healing.
James speaks to this issue in chapter 5 beginning with verse 14-16. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

And the prophet Isaiah has a few words to elaborate on the subject.
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

A disciple of Christ, like salt, is one who is sensitive to the wounds of others and provides an environment for healing.

Salt flavors, preserves, melts hard hearts, heals and we'll examine more attributes in our next post.