Devotionals

From the latest Ranger Magazine:

A devotion for Commanders by Barbara M. Phillips, Lady Margaret, wife of Sir Madoc, the Ocean goer.

Matthew 5:13

Here we see Jesus up in the mountain, away from the crowds of people who followed him, with his disciples. This is the sermon on the mount. He is teaching them biblical truths.

One of the things Jesus said was, v 13 "You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salt? It is good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

SALT. What do we know about salt?

*  Salt was so precious a commodity that Roman soldiers actually received it as a portion of their pay. This is how “salary” (salarium means “salt money” in Latin) and “worth one's salt”
 originated).
*  Salt was more indispensable to the Hebrews than to us. They used it as an antidote to the effects of the heat of the climate on animal food, and it was also used in the sacrifices. They had a ready supply of it on the southern shores of the salt sea, now called the Dead Sea.
*  Salt symbolizes hospitality, durability, and purity.
To eat the salt of the kings was to owe him utmost fidelity.
To eat bread and salt together was to make an unbreakable league of friendship.
COVENANT of SALT. Lev 2:13. Exd 43: 24. 2 Chronicles 13: 5.

In the state of Utah, America, there is a large body of water called the Great Salt Lake. It is surrounded by an even larger area known as the Great Salt Lake Desert. There are miles upon miles of salt, making it the largest concentration of this mineral in North America. Mines have been established, the salt is taken from the ground and purified for use.
The Bible says that we are the “salt of the earth.” But, if we lose our saltiness, we are henceforth good for nothing.

* Salt creates THIRST - How many like ham sandwiches? Everybody does! Ham is usually salty and we find ourselves drinking more liquid afterwards. As the salt of the earth, we create in others a desire for the water of Life: JESUS.

* Salt adds FLAVOUR. Did you ever try to eat vegetables without any salt on them? They usually taste flat. Salt perks up the flavour and even makes things like spinach taste better.
God put us here as salt. We flavour the world by serving Him in our daily lives. In this, we have to be different from the rest of the world in that we put Jesus first in everything.

*  Salt PRESERVES. Did you ever eat salt pickles? Salt pork? Salt fish? Did you ever wonder what keeps them from spoiling? SALT!
We have a message for the world, that Jesus died for their sins. The message must be preserved in the “SALT OF THE EARTH.”

*  Salt CLEANSES. It purifies and makes life better for us all. We can be a cleansing influence on the world, pointing people to Jesus, the Saviour of Mankind.

To the outpost commander:
Pour salt on your hand in demonstration.
Tell the Rangers: God wants us all to be spiritual salt in this world. If it is
your desire to be ever among the salt of the earth, then gather together and
let us pray.

Paul Weaver

"Royal Rangers is a very practical and spiritually based programme for young people. It was a particular blessing to my own children in their growing years. It is a programme worth looking at, especially, if you are looking for outward bound adventure and good Christian values for the young."

Paul Weaver
General Superintendant, Assemblies of God, UK