Happy Friday, friends! Hope you’ve had a wonderful week! I’ve been thinking on this week’s chapters and am just in awe of how creative our God is. I hope you have enjoyed this month’s book and let’s dive right in to the discussion questions!
Chapter 5: A Dash of Sea Salt (Taste and See God’s Purpose)
*Margaret lists several ways that salt is used as a symbol throughout the Bible:
- as a preservative
- as a symbol of new beginnings and a separation from the past
- covenant relationship
- scent for worship
- for flavoring
- as a purifier
- as fertilizer
Which symbol is particularly meaningful to you?
*“Salt can, and does, lose its saltiness through the influx of other substances” (pg. 112). What other substances might be overpowering your saltiness? Could it be that you might be resisting the very things God is using to bring you out of your comfort zone?
*“Your one little grain of salt can help with something someone else’s grain can’t” (pg. 114). Have you felt that certain personality traits or situations in your life disqualified you from being the salt of the earth?
Chapter 6: A Bowl of Delectable Olives (Taste and See God’s Healing)
*The first mention of olives in the Bible is in the story of Noah. He sends a dove out to see if there is any life again after the rain. The dove returns with an olive branch. Margaret tells us that this is God using two symbols of His peace. Where might you need God’s peace in your life? Is it encouraging to know that His peace is already there to receive?
*Olives have long been associated with healing in the Bible. Margaret discusses both the physical healing and spiritual healing associated with olive oil. Is there an area of your life where you need God’s healing touch?
*“We are called to be people who give and receive anointing and prayer…like the widow we are to set out our jars alongside each other that God might fill us in ways we never thought possible” (Pg.137). Think back on your life. Can you think of a specific time where others have set their jars alongside you, praying for you and anointing you through a difficult time? How can you set your jar alongside others?
Scripture of the Week
Matthew 5:13
Song of Songs 4:13-14
2 Kings 4:1-7
Prayer of the Week
Father God, we are in awe of how creative and detailed You are! Thank You for opening our eyes to all the ways You are working in our lives and encouraging us to go out and be Your hands and feet to the world. Help us to be brave and to come alongside others. Would You help us to be the salt of the earth You have called us to be? We know it doesn’t all depend on us but if we can relieve someone’s pain or help them even just a little bit, help us to do so. Thank You for Your gift of healing and peace. May we accept Your peace and as we look forward to one day being completely healed and may we pray and anoint others. We lift up our own areas of needed healing to You as well, Father. Thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Week
*Finish “Taste and See” by reading Chapters 7 and 8
Have a great weekend, friends!
I have been pondering the idea that we, as Christians, are agents of flavoring: “Our purpose is to bring the taste of heaven to earth wherever we go.” (Page 112)
Honestly, there have been very few Christians I have come into contact with that match this description…and full disclosure, I don’t think I match this description either. In my opinion, most Christians are too salty – and as a result, like the author states, their sweetness is reduced. (paraphrased from Page 112) Christ should bring out the best in us, but sadly, that’s so often not the case…
Rooted deep within us is pride and the need for control. I let judgments and criticism seep in and overpower my saltiness. I’d rather stay within my comfort zone and not venture out into what God could have for me or where He could use me. This resistance may come from prior disappointments or present despair and overwhelm…hope often dims in light of one’s perspective.
This is why it’s so important to grasp the meaning of God’s peace. We say things such as, “God won’t give us more than we can handle” and think we’ll have peace because He’ll give us only what we can take. But it’s no shock that everyone is dealing with some kind of drama, and a lot of the time it just keeps piling up. And it is too much – or at least seems too much for us to take. So what do we do with that? Where is this peace we’ve heard of, the kind God tells us about?
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
As much as we may not like to hear it, trouble (in whatever form) will occur in this life. However, God is our remedy to, rather than the source of our trouble. Yes, He allows things to happen, and yet He is all good. This is a tough concept. The peace He provides, though, isn’t the same as what our earthly minds can comprehend.
Having His peace doesn’t mean there aren’t any problems; it means we have hope in the midst of them. And when we have hope, we can begin to heal. It’s a process. We may “writhe and wrestle” like the author says, but this allows us to receive the “inexhaustible supply of grace, anointing, and healing” only He can provide. (Page 135)