When my attention is on the counterfeit, the counterfeit looks pretty good! My heart begins to pursue and seek after the glitter of the enemy’s paltry offerings, and my attention turns from eternity to temporary. The solution, and my only hope for true joy, happiness, and fulfillment, is to turn my eyes away from the counterfeit and instead focus on the real thing. The blessings of my Father are eternal, and will not bring heartache. His love is endless, and sufficient to provide all that I need.
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Scripture
Psalm 73:1-3, 16-17
Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
Observation
What an uncomfortable, honest admission from the psalmist! What humility to admit a close call. When his focus was on the apparent success of wicked men, his feet began to drift toward a painful fall. His envy caused him to only see the temporary earthly gain of wickedness, and blinded him to the long-term price that such men pay. Counterfeit success and blessing looked like the real thing until he took his focus off of the counterfeit, and instead turned his attention to the source of true blessing.
Application
For everything that God has created, the enemy has a counterfeit. Instead of the Father’s affirmation, the enemy offers pride. Instead of love, the enemy offers lust. Instead of eternal and abundant life, the enemy offers the temporary pleasures of sin for a brief season. Instead of divine provision, the enemy offers dishonest gain.
When my attention is on the counterfeit, the counterfeit looks pretty good! My heart begins to pursue and seek after the glitter of the enemy’s paltry offerings, and my attention turns from eternity to temporary. The solution, and my only hope for true joy, happiness, and fulfillment, is to turn my eyes away from the counterfeit and instead focus on the real thing. The blessings of my Father are eternal, and will not bring heartache. His love is endless, and sufficient to provide all that I need.
This week, I choose to turn my eyes to the true blessings of my Father instead of focusing on the false promises of this world’s cheap imitations.
Prayer
God, thank you for your blessings and your provision! I want to keep my eyes on you, instead of letting my attention be consumed by mere counterfeits of what you offer me. Thank you for your steadfast love, and for the eternal joy that I find in your presence.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”
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