BLOG ENTRY 15: Are you the real thing or just another counterfeit?

Are you the real thing or just another counterfeit?

15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

16 By their fruit you will recognize them.

17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into fire.

20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

~Matthew 7: 15-20 (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirt is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

23 gentleness and self-control

~Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

 

My dad would often tell me as young woman, “Never settle for a counterfeit. The devil sends many counterfeits, but only God can send the real thing. So you wait on the real thing.”

Throughout the years, I have had my share of counterfeits. Many were easy to recognize at face value, but others were deeply rooted within the lessons of betrayal, manipulation, and jealously.

Within these lessons, I have learned to lean on God through prayer and spiritual discernment in recognizing that everyone who says they are for you may not necessarily have your best interest at heart.  

Nevertheless, I have chosen to take these lessons not as defeat or retaliation, but as a chance to show the love of God even more in encouraging people in each season of my life.

I have chosen to take these lessons to learn, forgive, and press forward in the peace of my savior.

 

In this day and age, there is an artificial brand for everything. There are various imitations of popular food brands. There are knock offs of hand bags, jewelry, clothes, and shoes. There are even great pretenders, wannabes, duplicators, and all sorts of imitators.

Foot Note: Sometimes, it just pays to buy the original even if it cost a little more.  Sometimes the cheaper things will end up costing more in the long run. So stop being cheap and make the investment.

I decided a long time ago that I wanted the thing marked with the original seal of authenticity on the inside. I want the thing that just doesn’t look well from the outside, but bears no strength on the inside. I want the thing marked by the seal of truth and there is only person who holds that key and his name is Jesus Christ. I not only want THAT thing, but I want to BE that thing.

My uncle once said, “If you can’t love Jesus, then you can’t love me.”

In all my years of selfishness, I have finally come to understand what this truly means. The original is the best. There may be other good things, but will you wait on the best? And I promise you this one thing, you will know them by the fruit that they bear.

Questions to Ponder

·        Is the cost too much?

·        Is the season of waiting just too much?

·        Will you settle for rotten fruit or your season of harvest?

·        Are the fruit too high up in the tree that you would pick up those immature fruits on the ground?

·        Are you trying to steal fruit out of other’s people’s baskets?

 

He is my real thing and the protector of my heart. I gave him the key so you can’t get it from me.

So my final question to you is…Are you just another counterfeit or is this real thing?