BOGOs AND TWO-FERs !!

I’m prone to tuning out t.v. commercials, as I do most programming.  And I’m also prone to involuntary whiplashing when I hear an overly-exuberant advertiser scream, “But WAIT! If you order right NOW, you get one [whutever] FREE!  All you have to do is pay for shipping costs!”

My initial reaction is, if you gotta pay for shipping, it ain’t free. Second, unless I believe my special friend/relative would genuinely want one, whatfer do I need two of this gizmo?

It’s everywhere, like bug infestations – “buy one, get one free!”  “Two for the price of one!”

Well, I guess my cantankerousness is showing. I get a wee bit annoyed when I’m being told that I’m getting a stupendous deal, when instead, they’re not-so-subtly trying to abscond with my moulah.  That’s the real BOGO … play mind games with me AND steal me blind!  Wheee!

Okay, rant over.  But since I still feel like ranting, let’s do it in a more uplifting manner.  Psalm 119:18, 37 gives me the excellent advice of opening my eyes TO worthy things, and keeping my eyes OFF worthless things.  Isn’t this fun?  Two rants for the price of one!

So, what worth-ful thing, or Person, CAN I set my eyes on?  In today’s lingo, The Lord Jesus is indeed my Savior (Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4), BUT WAIT!!   He’s more!  He’s also my Advocate (1 John 2:1), my Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4), my Redeemer (Romans 3:24), and so much more.  And furthermore, He’s “free.”  There is no fee, there is nothing extra to pay, EVER!

So, what do I get out of this?  I get … to be God’s permanently adopted child (John 1:12; Galatians 4:5-6).  BUT WAIT, there’s more!  If I’m saved today, I also get … to be declared justified, and glorified (Romans 8:38), and sanctified (1 John 3:14). Hey, my name is recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20), all for no extra charge!  My bill has been paid, permanently.  There is no small print, no sneak fees.  It’s done.  Finished (John 19:30).

My Lord and my God, in this holiday season of expressing thankfulness, and of buying and giving and receiving, always looking for the best deals, the free deals, let me never forget the only “deal” that has ever mattered ... that you have reconciled me to Yourself (Colossians 1:20) through my Jesus. You’ve made it clear that I am permanently and endlessly loved (John 10:29) by You.  My Jesus, You are my permanent treasure in heaven, and all other earthly treasures are very temporary. Thank You for insisting that I keep my eyes away from worthless things, and instead, fixing my secure and confident hope upon You, my Rock and my Savior, the hope laid up for me in heaven (Colossians 1:5).  I am indeed eternally thankful for You.

AM I BOTHERING YOU?

Over the last few years, my husband and I have become caretakers for my parents.  Their common refrain is, “I don’t want to be a bother!” They’re sure that they’re depriving us of a much more exciting life. They think they’re doing us a favor by trying to do things themselves (like driving!) instead of asking us. They don’t always tell us when one of them has taken a tumble, or spent several days searching for a lost object, or botched a recipe. They want to appear as strong and independent as possible. As much as we try to help them understand that it is a privilege, a gift from God, to care for them, they still worry about being bothersome to my husband and me. So now I sabotage their worry by walking in the door bearing groceries and start right off by whining to them, “you’re right, you guys really ARE a bother, we could be extreme sporting in his-and-hers barrels over Niagara Falls!” Thankfully, despite weak eyes, ears, and knees, they still have a strong sense of humor.

You know what just occurred to me? I wonder if sometimes I have that same mindset towards God, of not wanting to be a bother to Him by prayer, petition, intercession, or fellowshipping. Do I ever think that I’m doing Him a favor by not telling Him when I mess up, because I suspect He’s probably busier with more important things, and because I want to appear strong and independent? Do I really think I’m making His life easier by trying to handle everything myself?

My loving Father, You already know everything about me and my life, so why would I even consider holding anything back from You, the Creator of all things? Is anything a bother to You, too difficult for You? No. I thank You that I was given the right, through belief in Christ, to be called Your adopted child (John 1:12-13). In this Christmas season, and every day thereafter, I thank You for the scriptural reminders that my Jesus reconciled me to You (Romans 5:10), gifting me with bold and confident access to You, through Him, in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18, 3:12).  It is a privilege and a gift from Youto care for me!

Every day, You regularly call Your children to draw near to You. What a relief, and how I praise You, that because of the gift of Your Son, I know that I can never a bother to You!

OVERKILL FOR CHRISTMAS

The last time I indulged in a massive dental procedure, my oh-so kindly, generous, thoughtful husband procured mushy edible food for me. If you consider Jello and pudding (not to mention, sports drinks!) to be food. The problem was that the thoughtful husband thought I should have a month’s supply. And since I only needed them for a couple of days, well ... we now have fossilized food in the cabinet. When I tried to tell him gently that this was overkill, he seemed surprised at my response to his love offering.

 
And now that it’s Christmas, for some reason, this overkill issue caused me to think about the many ways Scripture tells us how God has showered His children with loving gifts.
 
He has shown himself to be our Provider, as with Abraham about to sacrifice his son, knowing that “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8-14). For Abraham, that was not an overkill gift. It saved his son, and glorified God.

 
King Solomon humbly asked God for “an understanding heart to judge Your people,” God responded by saying, “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor” (1 Kings 3:9-14). Not overkill, but abundance of love, and glorifying to God.

The apostle Paul made sure the Philippian believers understood that “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever” (Philippians 4:19). Overkill? No. Love? Yes, out of His endless, abundant supply, and for His glory.

 
Today, I’m meditating on God’s glorious gift to us. “There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10). “And the angels said,” ... “Hey, don’t you think this is overkill?...”

 
NO, they did not. They were “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest’,” (Luke 2:13-14).

 
My oh-so-loving God, Your gifts sometimes seem so overabundant that I can’t totally wrap my mind around them, or understand why You would be so incredibly generous to me, except that You loved me long before I ever loved You (1 John 4:10). And even more unbelievable, Your gifts don’t stop with this life. One day I will be face to face with Jesus, my Savior and Lord.  I know without a doubt that I have “an inheritance reserved in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4).

 
My Father, Your gifts are never overkill, nor will they sit on a shelf becoming increasingly useless. With every gift You bequeath on me, I will praise You while I live, and I will sing praises to You while I have my being” (Psalm 146:2).

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

Upon a Time, there was a kindly crazy cat lady who generously fed and housed feral kitties on her back deck.  Eventually, the lady thought it would be in their best interests if they were captured and taken to a real home with food, shelter, and love.  So the elaborate cage was installed, and one by one, the two babes (and their mama) followed the tempting treats into the cage, and off they went to a better life.  Now they frequently send postcards of their days on the beach.

 

However, the last kitty, named Bernie, has steadfastly refused to enter the cage.  He knows there’s food in there, but he’s too “smart” to humble himself, accept help, and enter into a new and comfortable future.  He says to the lady, “I’m quite happy, thank you, with my independence.”  Even in sweltering summer and frozen-tundra winter, and low food supplies, uncouth beasts, and gross diseases, Bernie says he knows best and chooses to do what he wants, regardless of the outcome for himself, or the other ferals he will soon lead astray.  Yessir, Bernie is just too smart for his own good.  He will wind up starved, cold, and alone, and he’ll pass on fatal diseases to others, but hey, he still has his pride!

And as He is prone to do, the Lord showed me myself, both before, and during, my salvation.  He is very diligent to explain in His Word that every single sinner is born with chronic “wise in their own eyes” syndrome (Judges 21:25; Proverbs 3:7, 26:12; Isaiah 5:21; Romans 12:16).  That’s why nobody comes to God on their own, because their Tyrannosaurus pride obscures their spiritual vision, and they’re unable to see or love God.  He loved me first, humbled me to see Who He is, and drew me to Himself.  Yes, I am saved, but I’ve discovered that dismantling of self-sufficient pride continues to be a lifelong project.

Motivation is key – why do I want to be humble, when being self-sufficiently prideful and conceited seems to be more fun?  Well, do I love God and want to please Him?  Or don’t I?  Well, yes, I do want to please Him.  Even though there are times when my own self seems more important than my own God, in no way should I believe that my earthly accumulated intelligence supersedes His divine and perfect wisdom.  Listening to Him, and not me, is my foremost motivation (Job 15:8).  Dumping my pride will also prevent me from taking a physical and/or spiritual “tumble” (Proverbs 16:18) and dragging someone else along with me.  If I’m to be fruitful to others, I must first be humble (Philippians 2:3-4).  If others are offering me their own fruit, I must be even more humble.

My Father, it’s obvious that You detest haughty eyes (Proverbs 6:16-17), and that You love humility (Isaiah 66:2, James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6).  You caught me and humbled me, when I was still too “smart” for my own good.  My Jesus, You were born to die, and You humbled Yourself on the Cross, for my benefit and God’s glory.  You are God’s perfect gift, and indeed, You are the gift that keeps on giving, all year long.  Your endless mercy and grace is what keeps me from wanting to display feral pride and instead, being daily grateful for all Your provisions.  Because of this, I indeed feel very “merry” every Christmas, and every day in between!