Salted with Fire

“Everyone will be salted with fire.” 

Mark 9:49

Sounds painful. When salt is rubbed into a wound, it makes the pain worse. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used salt water to treat wounds and mouth sores, and skin irritations.

Why did Jesus say that EVERYONE will be salted with fire? He also said that we have to be salt in this world. We use salt to preserve food. Fire is used to purify metals, refining the gold and silver from iron and other impurities. Jesus means that we can be salt to a decaying, progressively despairing world. But first we need the refining fire of the Holy Spirit. Without His power, we are fair game for the evil one to toy with his endless deceptions. 

In Leviticus 2:13 we read: “Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God's eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.” Salt was a symbol of incorruption. We are all subject to decay and ruin. 

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2) Here it all comes together. We are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, but we should never forget to “add salt”, to preserve ourselves from the decay around us in the world. 

Lord, send Your Holy Spirit, and enkindle in us the fire of Your transforming love!