“Test everything. Hold on to the good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Mighty Lord Jesus,
You taught me something marvelous from a handbag. Recently I was offered something that looked too good to be true. And it was. I had an opportunity to buy a very expensive designer handbag for a fraction of the regular cost. At first I was very excited about this treasure find. I was already calculating in my mind how many I could buy and to whom I would give these handbags as gifts. Upon first look, the handbags looked authentic. They came in the same color as the designer bags. They carried the same inside label, the same logo was imprinted on the outside of each one, and they came in the same kind of canvas tote as the originals. However, upon close examination I could tell that they were indeed counterfeit. Although they were very nicely made of genuine leather, they still were not the true item as advertised. They were imposters. So I did not make the purchase. And dear Lord, You gave me a huge lesson right there in authenticity. Something may look like it is of You. It may have scripture printed on it and might even have Your name embossed, but I must carefully examine it under the leadership and discernment of Your Holy Spirit to see the Truth. We live in a very phony world. Seems folks always want to get something for nothing, or take the easy way out, or worse yet just fake it. But You have called us to be real, genuine, authentic Christians and that takes Your Spirit leading us and molding us into Your character. Discipleship is costly and timely. There are no shortcuts. Help us to be like the Bereans who examined the scriptures daily to see if what they were being taught was the truth. Keep us balanced. We don’t want to go the other extreme either, doubting everything and being paranoid. Help us to trust and seek You every day, knowing and growing in the dynamic fellowship of the risen Lord. Please don’t let me settle for anything less than You. Stamp Your name all over my life and make me absolutely real. By Your Spirit scrutinize everything I do until the falseness is done away with in me. I know that means testing for a lifetime, but when I come to heaven’s doors, I want to be recognized by the Designer as His original, not an imposter. So dear Lord, I stand before You, throwing open my arms and say “prove me genuine” but please o’ please do it gently – I am frail as dust!
Truly yours,
Penny
