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.

IDENTITY THEFT

 

A few years ago, I had a mild taste of identity theft.  It seems that a doofus little teenager, with no money of his own, used his hacking powers for evil instead of good.  He stole my credit card information to purchase $500 worth of teenage-type music and a Playstation.  Wicked, wicked ignorant boy, who thought he’d never be caught!  Apparently nobody ever taught him that his sin would find him out (Numbers 32:23).  I am very thankful that my credit card company was diligently watchful and determined that these charges were abnormal for me, the unwicked sweet little old lady, who has an entirely different outlook on what constitutes good music.  It took 8 months for the company to annihilate the charges from my card, thus leading me to decide it’s better to bargain only with cash, marbles, and jelly beans.

It has occurred to me that, just as I was miffed to find someone misusing my identity, probably Jesus isn’t all that crazy about people with a “form of godliness” (2 Timothy 3:5), a/k/a “tares” (Matthew 13:24-30), who misuse His name for their own ego and pleasure.  It reminds me that I was also once a "tare."  And it also reminds me that, even now, I must be aware of my own motives, of not using Your name for my benefit instead of Your glory.

Thank You, my Jesus, that You graciously gave Your identity to me, so that I'm no longer an identity-thieving "tare."  I have the privilege of calling myself by Your name.  It's not to make me look good, but instead to be fruitful, making You look BEST to the yet-to-be-saved people that You put into my life.  I'm eternally thankful that You have given me the right to be called a child of God (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26).  How blessed I am to be able to say, hallelujah, what a Savior You are!