It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
2nd Corinthians 1:21,22 NLT
Christmas is typically a time when we are forced to do some kind of shopping, even if we hate to shop, and I’ll tell you, I hate to shop. I have friends and family members who love it, though. Hmmm, maybe I ought to consider getting them to shop for me… oops…sorry, I got distracted there for a minute.
Shopping today is nothing like it used to be. Once upon a time, you could walk into a merchant’s facility and plop some money on the counter to buy an appliance or other high-dollar item for so much down and so much a month and expect to live happily ever after. Well, maybe not forever, but you could expect the item to last 15 or 20 years. Nowadays, no matter where or what you purchase, or how you purchase - installment or no installment, you’re offered the opportunity to buy an extended warranty with each purchase. Of course, it’s only good for 5 years or less or 50,000 miles/hours whatever, and whichever comes first. You may even be offered the opportunity to purchase an insurance policy on your installment payment and/or balance, in case something bad happens to you.
It might just be me, but I do not see how this is supposed to inspire any kind of confidence in the product or the workmanship that went into it, despite what the salesperson has to say. The only thing it seems to guarantee is that it’s going to break down, or if it doesn’t, it probably will after the “free” annual maintenance checkup – you know, the “Free” one that comes with your PAID warranty. Well, let me get to the good news.
Yes, there is always good news when it comes to God. In Scripture, we learn that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And the warranty work to fix anything that may get broken along the way is already paid for – by the Maker. Not only that, there are no exceptions, nothing hidden, no black-out dates, no gotcha clauses. On top of that, it’s not a 90-day warranty or 5-year extended warranty – it’s a lifetime guarantee. All we have to do is say, yes, we want it. That’s included, too. Already paid for. And don’t worry, we’re already identified by God with a gift He gives us – the Holy Spirit. We are ALL that He says we are. We can have everything He says we can have – that’s a lifetime guarantee that extends through eternity.
Prayer:
Father,
There is nothing offered here that even remotely compares to what You offer us on a daily basis and Your Son paid the price for it all. Open our eyes to see You, Lord, and to recognize the magnitude of the provision You have made for us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
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