Hello, friends in Christ. The readings for Sunday will be Psalm 112:1-9; Isaiah 58:3-9a; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20. To begin his sermon on the mount, Jesus tells us all the ways in which we are blessed. Following that this week he tells us we are salt. I love salt. I love its effect on my tastebuds when I add it to my food. I love its effect on my nose whenever I’m near the ocean and the invigorating aroma of saltwater fills the air. I love its effect on my driveway when snow and ice have made walking treacherous. Salt was designed by God to stand out! And so were you. Can you imagine such a thing as “salt that has lost its taste” (Mt. 5:13)? Saltiness is one of salt’s essential chemical properties! Just as absurd is the idea of a Christian whose life and conduct is in no way distinct from the world. God has put a new spirit in our hearts (1 Cor 2). We were not made for a life of just fitting in and going with the flow. A lot of processed foods today are good at masking their salt content so that you don’t realize how much is there. Sadly, we face the same temptation to mask our own saltiness for all sorts of reasons. Pray this week that God’s Spirit would bring out the full spiritual saltiness in you as you go about your work and play. The rest of Jesus’ sermon on the mount is filled with ideas on how that might happen. Remember, it’s not about being someone you’re not. It’s about being the person God made you (and Jesus redeemed you) to be. God bless you this week!