Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001

Subject: The “Real Thing”

Dear Ethan & Emily:

Several years ago, Coke utilized the slogan “The Real Thing” in their marketing of Coke products.  Certainly, we live in a generation and time when everyone is interested in cutting through superficialities and pretensions and just being…”real.”

Picking up on this theme, Moses said that “REAL life” comes as we read and obey God Word.  In referring to the many difficulties the Israelites had experienced in their journey from Egypt to Canaan (roughly present day Israel), he said that God used these experiences including the provision of the manna (“a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors”), to “teach you that people need more than bread for their life; REAL LIFE comes by feeding on every word of the Lord.”  Deut. 8: 3.

He pointed out that often the Lord uses discipline and hardships…not to hurt us…but to show us how we can live life to its fullest and experience the blessings He has in store for us as believers.  Dig into the far recesses of your minds.  Does this following statement sound familiar?  Moses again speaking:  “So you should realize that just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you to HELP you.”  (Deut. 8: 5).  Remember when you used to hear me or your mother say something like that before we used the “board or strap of discipline” on you as a child???…that we were “doing this for your good, etc.”!!!  Well, it is actually so very true. 

Just as in Moses’ day, the end result of our trails and chastening is that we learn to “…obey the commands of the Lord your God…”

And Moses is very specific as to how we do this: “…by WALKING in His ways” and by “FEARING Him.”  (Deut. 8: 6)

As parents, we want the very best in life for our children….we want you to live life as God meant it to be…lived to the fullest and in receipt of all His many blessings.  We want you to have “real life”…as it is the “real thing” that matters most.

So, “read,” “feed,” and “obey” God’s Word today…and have a “real” day as you live for Him.

All my love,

Dad