A young Christian got a job in the oil patch to work on rigs, hoping to become a roughneck. A friend of his warned him that they would most likely give him a hard time when they found out he was a Christian. But the young man really needed the job, so off he went. A year later, the two men met again. The friend asked, “How did it go? Did they give you a bad time because you were a Christian?” “No,” the man replied. “They didn’t give me a bit of trouble. They never even found out!”

Our calling is to be in the world to influence it, not be influenced by it. Jesus calls it being “salt.”

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13

It can be a challenge to know what to do and what not to do. I think that is the case because we are more prone to listen to the world than we are to Jesus.

The wisdom of the world says “don’t talk about politics and religion,” and yet the world is always talking about politics. However, they will use that adage to try to stifle discussions about faith. Well, at least the Christian faith. Any other religion will be hailed as “enlightened” or “new wisdom.”

Do not be deceived. This is the work of the devil in your life. He is the one urging you to keep your mouth shut about Jesus. Salt without taste is worthless and thrown away. You are not be worthless. In fact, God thought you were worth quite a bit. He loves you so much that He let Jesus come be your substitute payment for sin. He wants you with Him forever. You get that gift, that certainty, as a gift by believing what Jesus did was for you. And now you are to share that gift. Be salty.

Ask yourself how you can be salty for Jesus today. Then ask God to help you do it.