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b'READ: MATTHEW 5:13-16; PHILIPPIANS 2:13; COLOSSIANS 4:2-6\\n\\n\\n\\nYou\\u2019re groggy this morning, and you walk barefoot to the kitchen in that foggy, sleepy state. Once you arrive in the kitchen, you mindlessly and wordlessly prepare your oatmeal. Soon you sit down at the table and have the first taste of your handiwork.\\n\\n\\n\\nUgh. So bland. You add more sugar and try again. Still frown-worthy. You add still more sugar. Blech. You\\u2019re about to add even more sugar, when your mind clears and you realize, This needs salt, not sugar! You try a pinch of salt\\u2026and the oatmeal finally tastes good.\\n\\n\\n\\nAs Christians, it\\u2019s good to be reminded of how salt enhances the flavor of things. After all, we\\u2019re salt too! In Matthew 5:13, Jesus told His disciples they were \\u201cthe salt of the earth.\\u201d What does that mean? Jesus went on to say they were also \\u201cthe light of the world,\\u201d and then He said, \\u201cLet your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven\\u201d (verses 14-16). This applies to all Christians. We have a calling to season people\\u2019s lives with the flavor of God\\u2019s love. His love compels Him to help us, even to the point of dying on the cross for us. The way we treat others can help them get a glimpse of Jesus\\u2019s enormous love for them (Matthew 25:34-40).\\n\\n\\n\\nHow? By the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can be attentive to the needs of people around us. Do you know someone who\\u2019s sick? Is there someone who feels left out at your school or church? Is one of your classmates or siblings struggling with schoolwork? As we encourage others and offer to help with what we can, we get to share the joy Jesus has brought into our lives, and invite them to experience His joy too. Without Jesus, life can be pretty bland and discouraging. So let\\u2019s shake some salt into someone\\u2019s life today! \\u2022 A. W. Smith\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Can you think of a time someone seasoned your day with the salt of Jesus\\u2019s love? What did they do?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 Why is it important to remember that we love others because Jesus loved us first? That He loved us before we could do any good deeds? (Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 2:20-21; 1 John 4:19)\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cYou are the salt of the earth.\\u201d Matthew 5:13a (NIV)'