«l do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one» (John 17:15).
One of my neighbors prepares the most delicious homemade jams and preserves. He has a garden with a great variety of vegetables and fruits. Thus, everything he prepares is organic and natural. A few days ago, I went to visit him, and he gave me a jar of blueberry jam (made, of course, with blueberries from his garden). I brought home the jar of «violet elixir» with a huge smile and a lot of anticipation. A few days later, I took a slice of bread with seeds in it and opened the jar. Ploc! A strange sound and a strange smell surprised me when I opened the lid. I took the jar to my nose and sniffed it a little. I took a small amount of jam with a teaspoon, tried it . . . and proved my suspicions: It had fermented. When homemade jams don’t have enough sugar, they ferment. Unfortunately, I had to throw it away.
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, «You are the salt of the earth» (Matthew 5:13). In Jesus’s time, salt, among other things, was used to preserve meat. Both salt and sugar act as dehydrators. Bacteria that spoil food need moisture to develop and mature. Therefore, if we add enough sugar or salt, we significantly reduce the risk of pathogen formation. However, no matter how good the quality of salt or sugar, if they remain in the saltshaker or sugar bowl, they will never change the food.
Sometimes we misunderstand Christ’s warning: «If the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?» (Matthew 5:13). We believe it means that we must isolate ourselves and separate ourselves completely in order to maintain our purity. However, if the salt is not mixed with the food, it does not give its taste. The real challenge is to be in the world without being part of the world (John 17:15-18).
You have a duty and a role to fulfill! Without your presence and that of thousands of other women, the jam will be spoiled. Stop hiding; let your light shine.
Dear Lord, I want to live in such a way that others can see my hope and be infected with my joy. Please help me discover my spiritual inheritance and conquer it with boldness and faith. I’m not going to hide. I want to take advantage of every opportunity to give the world a pinch of salt.
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.
