“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Going to the mailbox turned out to be an adventure. Having determined that junk mail seems to increase when the economy is stronger, it hasn’t been uncommon for me to throw the whole pile from the mailbox…into the trash. But THIS one SCREAMED to me something I LOVE to hear! “I am a WINNER!” All I needed to do was investigate the mailer to find out WHAT I won…and WHY and HOW I collect it!!
Having been in sales most of my working career, I know the tricks devious people and companies can use to make sales. If they can get your ‘attention’ and pique your ‘interest,’ they have a good shot at ‘convincing’ you that what you WANT is what they HAVE. Knowing this was a scam, I wasn’t interested in knowing WHAT I won as much as I wanted to know WHO was referring to me as a ‘WINNER!’
I flipped the heavy plastic card around and glanced at the big print…nothing! I then focused on the back side where, about 1/5th of the card was REALLY fine print. Even after reading all of THAT, I still had NO clue as to who thought I was worthy of receiving $1,000,000 (or ‘up to’ $100)! For that, I had to CALL!!!! Then it clicked!
Words have a powerful impact on people. “You’ve got a cold” is a small thing when compared to, “you’re pregnant!” And “Hi!” doesn’t carry NEAR as much weight as “I love you.” A strange mailing calling ME a WINNER sets my bells ringing because SOME words just don’t seem to ‘go together.’ Today’s Bible verse is kind of like that because, using strength and weakness in the same sentence just doesn’t seem to fly!
Mention the name Jesus Christ in a crowd and you’ll generally get 2 different and extreme responses. One positive and the other…not so much! I think it’s because the message Jesus Christ came to proclaim has ZERO fine print! He never minced words or could be considered indecisive. He said (in so many, yet few words) “it’s me or the Lake of Fire!” And ‘if you want to get to God, I am your ONLY winning ticket!” Which leaves people who WANT to WIN, generally looking for the fine print!
“Take up your cross and follow me!” is a hard piece of mail to read! Concepts like, ‘the greatest is the leastest!’ ‘Serve others not yourselves.’ ‘Give and it will be given’ (but you go first)! ‘Turn the other cheek’ and ‘lend to those who ask,’ just seem to help weed out the dead leads that weren’t going to buy anyway!!
Today’s verse is kind of freaky and a concept that I have NEVER seen used in the commercial world! ‘Give ALL of your possessions away and come see what you’ve won!’ is the craziest contract I have ever seen. But wondering or complaining about it isn’t going to help because… I have already signed the contract!
Are YOU a winner too???
