Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing
- Aslan's Girl:Robin Thomas
- Feb 5, 2023
- 3 min read
A Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas
Lose 65 lbs without dieting or exercising!
Have you ever noticed on social media when you click on something of interest, like weight loss tips, you get dozens of ads about weight loss, supplements, and how-to videos? And if you make it through one of the “videos” that goes on and on, it’s all about buying their “exclusive” product sourced in a remote village in Nepal. Then you are bombarded with time-sensitive deals that will never be seen again.
If only that were true.
I did, however, check into one herbal product that seemed convincing. I noticed this particular supplement was indeed offered on Amazon for a much lower price. I studied the fine print and looked at the ingredients.
Everything seemed the same, but then I noticed that the bottles offered on Amazon had 60 pills in a bottle, but the bottles on the actual product website were 30 pills in a bottle.
Then I noticed the "L." One is ALPILEAN, and the other is APILEAN. A pretty good fake.
If you know the original's characteristics, you can spot a counterfeit.
I believe the message of Jesus is like that. Know the original.
Confusing accounts of what is right and wrong confront us daily.
If you study what is in the “red letters” of the Bible, (Jesus’ words are all printed in red letters in most Bibles) then you will know the actual teaching of Jesus versus what is a construct of society.
The original Law of Moses was the Ten Commandments, given to him by God on Mt. Sinai (Exodus Chapter 20, Deuteronomy Chapter 5).
In trying to keep these commandments, Jewish rabbinical Law morphed into 613 laws.
Jesus, in the red letters, narrowed it down to two commandments in Matthew 22:35-40.
One of them, [a]a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and [b]foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Jesus simplified the whole "to do" part of the Christian message. Love your neighbor as I have loved you.
The Gospel on the Ground author, Kristi McClelland says, “Take more time talking about what you are for, rather than what you are against.”
That statement really gave me pause. This is a message of “glass half full”, of positivity. Love people into the kingdom. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Don’t worry about sitting in judgment over your neighbor. Judgment is God’s job.
Jefferson Bethke, author, podcaster, and YouTuber said it well,
“Love others so radically they will wonder why.”
It is infinitely more satisfying to see the joy on someone’s face because you did something kind for them (loved them) than it is to see the anguish in reprimand for a shortcoming.
Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” –John 8:32
The truth is that He loved us so radically He gave us everything and asked for nothing.
You can't earn it, He freely gave it. It costs nothing but it requires everything.
My son walked into his favorite Hot dog shop. The guy in front of him had visibly had a hard day. My son moved him out of the way and paid for his lunch, refusing to take “NO” for an answer. The man was so moved and wondered why a 17 yr. old kid would do something like that. My son’s joy at the man’s reaction was all he needed. my son, in kindness, was showing the face of Jesus. Not only was the man touched by this action but so was the lady serving the hot dogs.
What is a dose of JOY worth to you?
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