Text: Mark 9:33-38, 49-50
Memory verse:
”Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”“
‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭50‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As a mineral, salt has been used as a purifying agent for many years in many religious practices. It is also believed to ‘absorb’ negative or unwanted energy when placed with intention around the home, serving as cleansing agent.
The scriptures also record its purifying effect on what it comes in contact with. For example, newborn babies were rubbed with salt (Ezekiel 16:4). Also, Elisha treated a bad water supply in Jericho with salt. ”Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ”“
‭‭(II Kgs ‭2‬:‭21‬)
Two elements are referred to in our text today, that is fire and salt, and both produce the same results, which are purification and preservation. Fire is used to purify silver and gold. The backdrop of the text is the bickering and wrangling of the disciples over who among them was the greatest (Mark 9:34). The only preservative of peace is purity from selfish ambition, which is symbolized by the “salt”.
The inner life must first be addressed before the outward conduct, that is, before peace with others is experienced. The root of all strife is self-love. It is the root of all sins. Once this root of sin is removed, the strife and fight that it produces will naturally dry up. Quarrels take place because the nerve of self is touched.
”…You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”“ ‭‭(Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭50‬ ‭NLT‬‬).
To have salt among yourselves is to have the qualities or the principles of salt. It is to have the Spirit of Christ and His Word at work in us. The grace that comes through Him has a cleansing power in our souls. ”You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.“ ‭‭(John‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬). However, the cleansing energy operates on us in proportion as we submit to and are influenced by the truths of the Gospel; as we live in communion with Christ; and as we seek to deny ourselves.
The nature of salt enables it to unite and knit the parts of the body salted together. So, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is a sign that you have salt in yourselves (Eph 4:3).
Friends, contention, quarreling, struggling for positions and honors, envy, jealousy, and the likes are the manifestations of self-love. Until this source of evil is purified, there can’t be any peace in the fold. To salt the world, you must first have salt in yourselves.

Prayer points
1. Father, I submit myself to You, and I ask You to purify me daily from every root of self-love with the salt of Your grace, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, put Your peace within me and make me an agent of peace, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I pursue the things that make for peace among the brethren because I have salt in myself.
2. I can’t give salt to the world when I don’t have salt within me.