Flavor

Luke 14:28-34 (The Message)

"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it?

If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.'

"Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other?

And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce?

"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.

"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

What foods really, really need salt?

Almost everything, right? If you've ever tried to do without, you know what I mean.

I'm thinking about vine-ripe, summertime tomatoes. I try to eat them every day this time of year. There's just about nothing better than a fresh sliced tomato. But even the best one, at the height of the season, is made better with just a little sprinkle of salt.

Salt brings out all the flavors somehow. I don't want to taste the salt...but I want the salt to bring out everything else. It's a mysterious phenomenon...taste, flavor, nuance.

And Jesus compares those who would follow him to salt.

If I sprinkled some salt, and it had no taste, I would be mighty confused.

I'd probably sprinkle more and try again. I might go see a doctor to figure out what was wrong with my tastebuds.

But Jesus seems to imply that it's possible for people who carry his name to lose his flavor.

What makes the difference?

Well...you wouldn't set out to build a house without knowing whether you could pay for it, right? OK, maybe in the U.S. market right now that's a bad example.

But generally...you want to know whether you can finish a project when you start.

Jesus is asking the same question.

We can't follow him in name only. Can we count the cost of faith?

Are we willing to submit ourselves and live in connection with this messiah? Can we live a life of prayer and spiritual commitment? Can we experience the Holy Spirit and follow it daily in our lives?

Good questions...questions of salt and flavor...taste and nuance...and authenticity.

Prayer: Father God, we pray that you would make our love authentic. May we be salty people, full of the flavors of grace, peace and love.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.