by Greg Laurie
“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.”
—Matthew 5:13
I believe in delivering sermons, but some things are preached and some things are lived. After you share your message, there comes a point when you need to start living it.
How? Good works. Do good things. Be the person who is known for kindness, cheerfulness, and concern for others. Be the person others can depend on. Be the person who will go the extra mile. Be the person who is known for hard work.
Someone might even say, “I don’t believe all the stuff they believe, but they’re trustworthy and honest and good.” Start there. Be the good person, the godly person.
Then wait for those moments that will come your way as a result. I maintain communication with people who are almost coming to Christ as well as those who are far from Christ. I try to encourage them, but I also try not to go too fast or too hard. And when I see them making a move toward Christ, I make a move to help them get there.
We need to pray for wisdom. We also need to be godly, loving, and fun people to be with—not judgmental, not hypercritical. Yes, there’s a time to draw the line when we don’t agree with things. But there’s also a time to just be that salty person.
Jesus said in Matthew 5, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? . . . In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (verses 13, 16 NLT).
As you’re being salty by not always preaching your message but living it, it will begin to stimulate thirst in other people.
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