Exclusive Offer

Everybody loves an exclusive offer.  There’s something attractive about knowing you can’t get this kind of deal anywhere else.  Over the Christmas season lots of places have been trying to tempt us with an exclusive deal.  I’ve been considering this for a while and discovered that companies, magazines, websites and TV adverts are making an offer to us that they cannot deliver on.

In Subway recently I read this slogan on the T-Shirt of the person serving me “however you feel, whatever you want – we’ve got a sub for that.” No big deal you might think.  Just another marketing slogan from a fast food chain.  Actually I don’t think so.  This is a gospel message, a false gospel message.  It’s kind of like an alternative to the 23rd Psalm.

The lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. – see how Subway turns itself into a kind of god who can give us ‘whatever we want’? Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. –  see how Subway turns itself into a kind of god who is there for us ‘however we feel’?  The problem is Subway cannot deliver on the promise.  A sandwich can’t make any preparations for our future beyond this life on earth but the One True God can!  Jesus makes the important exclusive offer in our lives.  We need a Shepherd not a sandwich!

Jesus is the Only One who satisfies the eternal hunger in our lives (John 6:35)

Jesus is the Only One who enables us to face every circumstance (Philippians 4:11-13 & 4:19)

Jesus is the Only One who prepares an eternal home for us. (John 14:6)

Jesus is the Only One whose name brings salvation. (Acts 4:12)

Paul Baloche sings

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
‘Cause nothing has the power to save but Your Name

The real exclusive offer of Christmas is found in the Bible “turn to me and be saved all you ends of the earth – for I am God and there is no other!”

That’s all for now – I’m off for a footlong steak and cheese…

Surprised by Scripture: Part 1

I’ll be totally honest – when I realised that my daily readings were going to be in Lamentations this week my instant reaction was not good. Actually I was dreading it. I’d never read this book before (but let’s face it the name kind of gives the plot away!) and it wasn’t long before I discovered some stuff that reaffirmed my preconceived view of this book. Speaking about God the author of Lamentations says..

“He is a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in hiding; he turned aside my steps and tore me to pieces he has made me desolate; he bent his bow and set me as a target for his arrow.”
Lamentations 3:10-12

Not the most inspiring section of Scripture I have ever read and we’re not likely to memorise it in our youth group or Sunday school but I guess we’ve got to appreciate the honesty of how this author feels or thinks about God. Ten verses later in this ‘lament’ I was struck by how this same author talks about God…

But this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness
“The LORD is my portion” says my soul
“therefore I will hope in him.”
The LORD is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.

This is worth committing to memory so that when you feel as though God is using you as target practise you can be confident of His steadfast love. I am glad to have been guided to Lamentations this week and really love the honesty of this prayer.

I don’t know if there’ll be a part 2 to this series but I hope that God continues to surprise me through His word.