We Have To Have Grit

    Mattie Ross hired Rooster Cogburn to find her father's killer in
the movie because he had "True Grit".  Grit, sand, salt.  A person
with nerve who is not afraid to move in the face of danger.  Jesus had
the same thing in mind when he talked about those who follow him.

    "Salt is good", Jesus said in Mark 9:50.  "but if the salt loses
its flavor, how will you season (with) it?  Have salt in yourselves,
and have peace with one another."

    In cooking, salt is a key ingredient that we use for flavoring. 
There is very little food that you can buy in the market that does not
have some in it and the reason is simple.  Food is tastier with it and
our bodies need it.  It is one of the basic building blocks of our
physical make-up.  It is so important in fact, that people have even
gone to war to have it and have even used it as money.

    What happens then, when the salt loses its flavor?  What is it
good for?  In Matt. 5:13 Jesus said that it is only good to be used as
paving to walk on.  As Christians, we have the same choice.  To flavor
the world around us or to be walked on.  When Jesus said that we are
to have salt in ourselves, he meant that we are to be an active
influence for godliness to others.  And if we don't have that ability
to flavor the world around us, then what good are we?

    Then we are to "have peace with one another."  Even though salt is
a mineral that flavors the food, it is not so over-powering that it
clashes with other seasoning.  It complements almost any kind of food
as well as accepting pepper, oregano, basil, parsley, etc.  It goes
with most everything yet remains distinctive.  In the same way we are
to pursue peace with one another.

    We remain ourselves yet accept in friendship others who may
disagree with us.  Paul in his letter to the Colossian church said
that (4:6) we are to "let our speech always be with grace, seasoned
with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one (those
outside the church)."

    Then Paul's letter to the church in Rome (12:18) says that "if it
is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." 
Then in the fourteenth chapter (v. 19) he says "Therefore let us
pursue the things that make for peace and the things by which one may
edify (or build up) another."

    What Paul is saying is that we are to be active in our pursuing
peace.  One thing that can be said about the lives of the early
Christians is that they had salt.  Their faith meant so much to them
that they certainly were not bland and complacent in what they
believed.  From Paul to Martin Luther to John Wesley.  When they
spoke, the people listened, or threw rocks.  One thing is sure, they
weren't ignored.


Frank Cooke