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Luke 14 34-35 Being the Salt 05 We are fundamentally different
📖 Luke 14:34-35
17Jan2020 - *We are fundamentally different* - _Luke 14:34-35_ - Bible reading: _Matthew 6:31-33_
_Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men._
We have been studying the passage in Luke 14:34-35, on being salt but we must consider Matthew 5:13 because, Jesus is calling us to be the salt of the earth.
To be salt of the earth, there are four applications that we must consider. They are as follows.
1. We are fundamentally different
2. We must penetrate the non-Christian world
3. We must influence and transform the non-Christian world
4. We must retain our distinctiveness
Let us now consider the first application, which is, *We are fundamentally different*.
We are in the world but we are not of the world. The understanding of the world is given in _I John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world._ This is the ethos of the world. This code of the world must not be seen in us. _(17) And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever._
If this ethic of the world, were to be seen in us, then we become friends of the world and enemies of God. _James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God._
What are some of the ways in which the world operates, which should not be seen in us?
_Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Luke 12:30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.)_ The nature of the world is to pursue after the material needs of life. They find it strange if we are not in the same race. _(33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you._ This is where we demonstrate that we are fundamentally different.
It is only, when we are being salt, and fundamentally different, that we create the opportunity for the gospel to made manifest in us. If we are not being fundamentally different, then we are hindrances for the gospel.
*Thought to ponder*
```Is your life contrary to the ways of the world?```