Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
It's easy to spot a counterfeit. Have you ever noticed that? If you're familiar with the authentic—if you know what the real thing looks like, acts like, sounds like—then spotting the counterfeit becomes second nature.
A Counterfeiting Principle
This principle is so true in the world of money. The U.S. Treasury Department knows this—they spend millions of dollars training their people to detect counterfeit money. Here's the crazy part: they don't train them by showing them pictures of all the different counterfeits out there. No, they train them by immersing them in the authentic bill. They get so familiar with what real is that spotting fake becomes second nature to them. This is exactly the principle that Paul wants us to understand in our Verse of the Day.
It's 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, verse 16. It says, "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all."
Transformation Requires Knowing the Authentic
I think it's interesting that Paul starts with what not to do—don't copy the behavior. Actually, I think what he's really saying is the positive thing here: if you want to not copy the behavior of the world, you've got to know what the authentic looks like.
You've got to spend time immersed in what is real. You've got to spend time in the Word of God. You've got to spend time understanding what God's will is for you. You've got to spend time understanding who Jesus is and what He's done on your behalf.
Know What the Real Thing Is
When you know what the real thing is, when you're immersed in understanding what is authentic, the counterfeit becomes obvious. Your eyes will catch it. Your ears will catch it. Your heart will catch it, because you know what real is.
I want to encourage us today. Don't spend all of your energy trying to avoid the counterfeits. Don't spend all of your time looking at what the world is doing so that you can know what not to do. No, spend that time immersed in the authentic. Spend your time knowing God, knowing Jesus, spending time in His Word, understanding what His will is for your life.
Changed From the Inside Out
The beautiful part of Paul's message here is that this isn't something that we have to white-knuckle our way through. He says that God transforms us. This transformation happens by changing the way we think. It's from the inside out. It's not behavioral modification—it's transformation.
When you spend time with Jesus and with the Word of God, He changes the way you think. When your thoughts are changed, your actions will follow.
Immerse Yourself in the Authentic
My challenge for you today is: immerse yourself in the authentic. Spend time in God's Word. Spend time in prayer. Spend time understanding who Jesus is. As you do that, spotting the counterfeit in the world becomes second nature. You'll find yourself aligned with God's will for your life, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
