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.

WHAT YOU LOOKIN' AT?

If you’ve ever been owned by a cat, you can identify with that sometimes creepy feeling that comes from a kitty unblinkingly staring at you with its intense guilt-and-fear-inducing glare, and you swear that kitty must be an alien subversively implanted in your house, like “pod people,” only cute, and with fur.

In a somewhat related way, decades ago, my 3-year-old brother once had a one-sided conversation with another small child in the grocery store.  He was installed in the cart seat when I heard him sternly say, “you quit looking at me, boy!”  Sure enough, another kid in a cart seat was looking at my brother.  No clue why, just staring him down.  And little brother repeated his demand, “quit looking at me!”

Yessiree, there’s just something about being stared at that automatically makes us defensive and on-edge, saying, “what are you looking at?”

In His ever-perfect timing, the Lord brought these instances to my mind while I was reading in Luke 22:61 about Peter’s three-time denial of Christ right before the crucifixion.  “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.” He then remembered the Lord’s prophecy, causing him to fall to his knees and repent.  He didn’t have to ponder why Jesus was looking at him.

Tell me, have you ever felt the Lord “look” at you?  I have.  For instance, in moments of weakness, I’ve denied knowing Him by not taking opportunities to introduce him to others.  And then I see Him “looking” at me with His words -– “whoever is ashamed of Me … whoever denies Me” (Mark 8:38; Matthew 10:33).

My precious Lord Jesus, as I walk with You through this Easter week, I marvel at Your finished work on the Cross.  Everything You did glorified Father God by Your obedience to Him.  I see how important it is that I not only be looking at Your words in Scripture, but that I humble myself to be looked at by You, that You tenderize my sometimes stubborn and weak heart to be obedient to You, to be repentant of my sins, knowing that You are faithful and just to forgive me.  I know why You are looking at me.  It is to prompt me to obedience by pointing others to You alone for forgiveness of sins and to be reconciled to the Father. How I look forward to an eternity spent with You under Your merciful and loving gaze.

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!