How often do you hear, “Pass the salt, please?” as you sit around your dinner table. It’s a daily occurrence in my family. When it comes to food, we’re a well-seasoned family.
But are we well-seasoned in our faith?
Recently a verse piqued my interest as I studied the book of Leviticus:
“Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.” Leviticus 2:13
God covenants with Abraham, “You will be father of many nations and kings will come from you.” God establishes an everlasting covenant to be the God of Abraham and his descendants. God promises them possession of the whole land of Canaan, the land of milk and honey. God covenants, “I will be your God.”
After almost 400 years of slavery, God freed the Israelites and led them safely out of Egypt. At the foot of Mount Sinai, that covenant between God and the Israelites was confirmed.
In the wilderness, as the Israelites journeyed to the promised land, God perpetually gave Aaron all the holy offerings presented to the Lord. “It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and your descendants as well.” Numbers 18:19
God promises to provide. Yet, the Israelites failed to keep God’s covenant.
They failed to pass the salt. We do, too.
Fortunately for us, God loves us despite our failures and pursues us in spite of them. He offers Jesus Christ as “the mediator of the new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15
God knew that it was impossible for us to fulfill the law of the covenant. In His steadfast love, He sent Jesus Christ to fulfill the law, once and for all.
God covenants. He promises. But, are we well-seasoned in our faith to trust His promises?
Do we leave out the salt?
I don’t know about you, but I need visual reminders to keep up with important things. I’m the queen of post-it notes. They’re plastered all around my desk. Framed scripture verses and inspirational quotes adorn my desk at work and home. A crystal cross sits on my Bible study desk reminding me daily that Jesus took my sins to the cross. I wear my Emmaus bracelet made of brass fishing lures dotted with rainbow colored beads continually–twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I never take it off. Why? It reminds me of something important. God is always with me.
My Creator knows this about me. After all, He created me. He knows we need visual reminders. Maybe that’s partly why He commands, “Add salt to all your offerings.”
Why salt? Besides being a valuable commodity in Biblical times, it’s an excellent preservative. It cures.
It’s also an excellent seasoning; a favorite, in fact.
The next time we pass the salt around our dinner table, I’ll season my faith and remember:
- Just as salt preserves, God’s love is perpetual.
- Just as salt cures, God heals.
- Just as salt seasons, I will taste and see that the Lord is good!
Together, let’s pass the salt.
Wow, we both used the Leviticus passage in our blog posts! I’m visiting you from #livefreeThursday. Thanks for sharing!
We need to add salt to our lives and be the salt in our world. I like the thought to be reminded to be the salt whenever we use salt.
It’s so comforting to find comfort in other believers, especially at times like these. Yesterday I felt alone on an island, my heart deeply saddened, but this community of Christian writers continue to lift me up! Thank u❤️
Monica, I’m a visual reminder gal too! Now I’ll add salt to my list! Thanks for your insight, Cindy@myseaofthought #livefreeThursday