Seasoned Talk
There are a lot of "seasoning salts," but there is only one "Seasoned Salt": Lawry’s!
The history of Lawry’s Seasoned Salt goes back over 80 yrs to 1938 when the famous restaurant, Lawry’s The Prime Rib, opened in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Lawrence Frank, the inventor, developed the blend initially for prime rib, but his family was pleased to find that the salt didn’t only season prime rib to perfection, but enhanced the taste of many other foods as well. The blend contains salt, sugar, paprika, turmeric, onion, and garlic.
Once the blend was perfected, they put Lawry’s Seasoned Salt on the table right next to the salt and pepper. The new seasoning was so popular that guests took to stealing it and bringing it home with them. People just couldn't get enough of this stuff.
"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:6, NIV).
Are the words we speak, especially in our witnessing, so appealing that others just can't get enough? Are others so blessed by their interactions with us that they just keep coming back for more? Or do our words repulse and repel others, like spoiled milk, or maybe just leave them "meh" and unchallenged, like tasteless porridge?
The Apostle Paul thought our words should be well seasoned! As one commentator put it, "our words should be tasty and delightful," having a positive influence on all who hear them, that they might even keep coming back for more!
This can only come from preparation. Just as the folks at Lawry's worked hard to perfect their blend of spices, we must work to prepare ourselves to be ready to share the Gospel message in a way that challenges and entices the hearer. "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15, NIV).
As we share God's Word with a spiritually hungry world, let's challenge them, as did the Psalmist, saying, "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8, NIV).
The Cumulative Effects of Spiritual Blindness
"I had no idea what was coming at me," said California ophthalmologist Katerina Kurteeva as she painstakingly removed one contact lens after another from the eyes of an elderly patient. All in all, Dr. Kurteeva removed 23 layers of lenses.
It seems the elderly woman either didn’t know or had forgotten that she must remove previous contact lenses before placing new ones. The ensuing blurred vision caused her to keep inserting more lenses in the hopes of correcting the problem. Her vision blurred more and more until she finally sought medical help.
Fortunately, the lenses were removed before permanent damage was done.
Amazingly, this wasn’t even the worst case ever reported, with a UK doctor having removed a record 27 lenses from the eyes of another elderly patient back in 2017.
Follow this link to observe a video of the procedure.
Like the blinding physical effects of these layers of lenses, the effects of spiritual blindness can build up slowly, creeping up on us as we focus on life through worldly lenses.
When we view the world without benefit of the light of the Word of God, we just keep adding layers of worldy perspective upon previous layers, until we either realize our perspective is skewed and seek help, or we simply, over time, become “blind” to our own blindness.
It may take someone else making us aware of our skewed vision, helping us to remove the layers of worldly perspective, and opening our eyes to the clarity of a scriptural worldview.
Don’t give into delusion. Don't wait until you are utterly blind. Seek help. Look to the Word of God to bring clarity and light to the eyes of your soul.
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18, ESV)
“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17, ESV).
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4, ESV).
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins” (2 Peter 1:5-9, NIV).
Stop Everything and Listen
A 1970s TV Commercial features a couple of men in a busy restaurant. At the surrounding tables, people are noisily chattering away and two waiters are putting food on the table. The men are talking about finding good stocks and one says, "My broker is E.F. Hutton and Hutton says ..." In that instant, everything stops and everyone leans in to hear what might be said. Silent seconds pass. Then a narrator says, When EF Hutton speaks, people listen."
There is more noise and distractions in the world than ever before; more voices; more options; more to do and to say; and more that demands our attention. Nevertheless, God speaks. We need only to want to heed his voice and do His will.
A good stock tip might swell your bank account but the Word of God will fill your heart and guarantee you treasure in heaven.
"But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." (Habbukuk 2:20)