Can you spot the genuine article?

Do you know how to spot the genuine article in a world of counterfeits? Everyone has an interpretation. Everyone has a hot take.

What are you supposed to do in a world where everyone has something to say and it all starts to sound like noise?

A dear friend and mentor in the faith gave me this analogy a couple weeks ago and it’s too good to keep it to myself. You’re going to want to remember this one.

Imagine a bank teller sitting at the counter counting $100 bills. This is before the age of the digital movement of money so it’s all done by hand. How can this teller determine if all the Benjamin’s are authentic? There are a lot of them after all.

The ability to spot the genuine article doesn’t come in the moment of encountering the fake. It comes in the years of repetition with genuine bills. The texture feels off. The crispness is different even if it’s been made softer by handling. The teller knows the counterfeit $100 bill because of the extended time spent with the genuine $100 bill.

When someone is offering their take, their interpretation, their question of “what is truth?” then you will need a standard to measure it by. You need the genuine article.

When a popular author releases a new book, a talking head makes a claim with a very official looking headline, the guys give you marriage advice, you read a journey on a mommy blog, or someone in a small group makes a statement that doesn’t sit quite right, how will you know what to do with it?

You have to know the genuine article to spot the counterfeit.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Bible is our genuine article. It’s the word of God that has stood the test of time. It can be known. We have access to so many copies of Scriptures throughout time, especially the New Testament. We can go back through centuries to verify its original message. I’ll give the old investing advice: the best time to start reading the Bible was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

A brief word on Bible reading. We ought not read it because we have to or are supposed to. This is not a college textbook with outdated information we need to glean just enough from to pass a test. These are the very words of God and life for us. The Bible is a well of wisdom and truth that never runs dry as deep as you may go into it. If you will test those depths.

The more time we spend reading God’s Word because it’s the truth, the better we’ll be able to spot the rampant counterfeits.

If you don’t know where to start, I’d be happy to help you. Reply to this email and we can come up with a plan together.

For you to think about this week:

1. How do I think about the Bible?

2. Is the Bible life to me, boredom to me, or death to me?

For you to act on this week:

1. Read the genuine article this week. Build value in your own eyes for the Bible by reading Psalm119. This is the longest chapter in the Bible, but it’s broken up into 8 verses that can be taken in over the course of the week.

In a world that is shaking to its foundations, the sure and true Word of God is a standard that fears no threat.

Tweet of the week: 👇

That’s it for this week! Next week I’ll start sharing some content from the upcoming book.

Talk to you soon!

~ J.P.