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Sunday, December 20,
2009
The Right Amount
Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward
them that are without, redeeming the time. (6) Let your speech be alway
with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer
every man. (KJV)
Have you ever put seasoning like salt on
something only to find out that when you tasted it that you had put too
much on? Salt enhances the flavor of many foods, but if too much is added
it can spoil the whole lump. For some people they desire a lot of salt, for
others it may be a pinch, and yet others don’t want it at all. But with the
right amount of salt the flavor bursts forth and overcomes the old taste
buds allowing the new to savour the rich satisfying flavor. Hungry yet? J
How much of the Lord’s seasoning do you
try to shake out onto others? Many young Christians foolishly loosen the
lid on the salt shaker just waiting for someone to come along seeking to
partake of it; seeking an answer of the hope within them. Then, BAM off
comes the lid and the salt spills all over the savory meal they were
starting to partake of and spoils it. At that point they turn and walk away
disappointed and overwhelmed by what just happened, or they turn and
angrily rend you. Not only was the meal that was prepared spoiled, but how
much of the Lord’s seasoning was just wasted?
It is when the “I” gets in the way that
this usually happens. Because the “I” is not paying attention to how much
salt is coming out, and many times those who are on the receiving end are
about to wilt away because they cannot absorb it all. Each individual is
unique and only the Lord knows the right amount of His Word that they can
handle.
Until one learns to add the right amount
of the Lord’s seasoning, that being led by the Spirit, they will continue
to cause a bad taste in the mouths of those who are only seeking a simple
answer. The Lord prepares a simple tasty meal for those who are hungry, and
we need to be ready (prepared with the right amount of seasoning) to serve
the meal as He desires it to be served. His desire is that they would
return for more and be filled and satisfied in Him. Not for them to go away
hungry and disappointed or angered by the meal they were subjected to
because an “I” got in the way.
Now as we grow and mature in the Lord we hear
more clearly, and we learn how to apply the Lord’s seasoning, and just how
much for each Spiritual meal; knowing that it is the Lord who has prepared the
meal as He saw fit and knows the need. As with Jesus Christ, He learned to
hear clearly on what to say, and then to wait and hear on how the Father
would have Him to speak it, so that it would minister grace unto the hearer.
We too have tasted that the Lord is
gracious through the right amount of His Word which He knew we had need of.
Think about this; the Lord has prepared all of our meals for us with just
the right amount of seasoning that caused a desire within us to seek out
more of His Spiritual meals. That is what He desires to do for all.
We have the seasoning of the Lord within
us and He desires to use us to minister grace unto the hearers as well with
just the right amount of His seasoning applied, so that one more might seek
to have their belly filled with the meat that perishes not.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ
also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (KJV)
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