MESSAGES
“I hate every false way”
—Psalms 119:104 (NKJV)
The other day our church staff caught two people attempting to cash a counterfeit $100.00 bill in our bookstore. They were able to detain the suspects until RPD arrived. The three officers did an outstanding job investigating the incident. In the end, one of the suspects was arrested.
Merriam defines counterfeit as, “to imitate; something made in the imitation of something else with intent to deceive.” This suspect was hoping to deceive the cashier in our bookstore as she attempted to purchase something real with something false.
It didn’t happen. Instead, our cashier was able to recognize the money for what it was—counterfeit money. She became suspicious of the bill as she took a moment to look at it and feel it. She knew something was not right, and immediately sought the store manager who in turn detained the suspects.
One suspect will now be spending time behind bars all because she wanted to play with something that was fake, phony, counterfeit hoping that she could pass it off as the real thing.
After the event was over I began to think about the words of Paul, “Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). I began to think about my own life. Am I always the real thing in my walk with the Lord? Am I always imitating Christ? Or am I a counterfeit? I certainly want to be the real thing, but I also know that at times I don’t always appear to be.
Jesus says that others will know us as His follower by the fruit that we bear in our lives (Matthew 7:16). What is that fruit? The Bible says it is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). These are pretty difficult attributes to attain, not only for a police officer and firefighter, but for any follower of Christ. Yet, if we’re to be the real thing, these things will be seen in our life.
Sometimes I get discouraged when I fail to show myself as the real thing for the Lord. But then God’s word is always there to encourage me, “being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it . . .” (Philippians 1:6; emphasis added). God’s still working on me and teaching me. And I’m certain that He’s doing the same for you.
“Lead me in Your truth, and teach me”
—Psalms 25:5 (NKJV)
Walk in truth,
Pastor / Chaplain Steve |
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| SHIELD OF FAITH |
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For more information,
call (951) 687-6902
Attention Juanita
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