Journey, Day 20 ... The REAL deal

Today marks the half-way point of our journey.  You may be surprised that so much of our thought and focus has been inward to this point. Looking intentionally inward is an important discipline for followers of Jesus, but only if the focus is on God’s truth and how it affects our lives. We’ve all known people who do nothing BUT focus on their own lives … their riches and accomplishments or their troubles and hurts. That’s not a right focus. It leads either to pride or worry and does not draw others to find God for themselves.

When we focus on God’s truth and his character as revealed in Scripture, we become.  We don’t need to perform or to be good enough to come to God. Instead we find a growing desire to be more like him … the One in whose image we are made. It’s really an amazing thing!  God’s desire for us is exactly what makes us most ourselves. Ahhhh!

The Treasury Department trains people to become expert at spotting counterfeit currency.  You would think that they point out the errors and mistakes to watch for in phony money, but that isn’t what they do at all.  Experts are given genuine currency to study, to touch, to fold and crumple and even smell and in that familiarity they learn to spot anything that isn’t the real thing. You know where I’m going here.  As we walk with God, we are able to recognize him in our own lives and in this confusing world around us. The Bible calls this discernment.  

As you journey today, focus on Jesus and the way he lives and loves. Just think about THAT personality and give thanks that you have been created to be like that …the real deal. 

“LORD Jesus, you are such a lovely example of true love!  Help me recognize you in the people I meet, and help the people I meet recognize you in me.”