THE LORD enlarges on those things that are necessary to be a true servant. There is, for instance, to be a lack of offense to the little ones. How this gospel rings with His love for the dear little children, and how touching to our hearts to know of the love of a Father who looks down on all children of the world and would embrace them in His affection. In them He surely sees not only helplessness and inability to provide for themselves of any need, but also the simplicity that brings real faith and confidence in another, without guile or deceit.
Then, too, the true disciple will be willing to forego the most cherished pleasures if he would truly serve the Lord. “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.”
Whether it be that which we would naturally hold onto (the hand offending us); a pathway of some pleasant pursuit (the foot offending); or an object of pleasure resulting in pride of life (the eye offending) —any, or all of these, must be taken away from the servant’s life if he would be wholly dedicated to serving his Master.
Most solemn too are these warnings to any who would allow the occupation of their hands—the walk of their feet—or the lust of their eyes to stand between them and faith in Christ; and who thus scorn salvation. Toward such the Lord’s warnings were most sobering and His word to them is to break away from such hindrances at all costs. He tells of hell as the place “where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.” Are you, perhaps, allowing anything of this world to keep you from thinking solemnly of your need of salvation from judgment to come? Friend, immediately cast aside every barrier and call on Him Who is able “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25).
“For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
“Salting with fire” is figurative of the fire of judgment on those who reject salvation, as referred to in the preceding verses. “Salting with salt” is a figure of the preserving and seasoning quality of the new life given every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. The preserving and seasoning quality of salt in the believer is indeed good, but care is needed that its savor is not lost, or it will be of no value insofar as relationship between believers is concerned in either preserving one another in our outward behavior or the seasoning of one another in the things of eternal value. Where the proper preserving and seasoning of such salting is applied one toward another, the result is a harmonious and peaceful walk among God’s people. We then enjoy together the things that are of eternal value taking the occupation of hands, feet and eyes away from the world and its deceptive attractions and employing them in ways pleasing to God.
ML-11/24/1963