Janet just had to stop at the discount mall and buy some clothing items. (How is it that women NEVER have enough clothes?) I waited in the car for a very long time (about 40 minutes!) but when she finally tapped on the window I could tell by her expression that something was amiss.

You can imagine my shock when she informed me that the twenty-dollar bill she was using to buy the blouses (they were on sale) was counterfeit. This is the same money that had been handed to us about thirty minutes prior by a bank teller. I was incredulous that they gave her the twenty back and did not call the cops!! Boy! That would have been a great news item in our local paper. PASTOR'S WIFE ARRESTED PASSING BOGUS TWENTY DOLLAR BILL!!

As they say, "All's well that ends well." I went back to the bank, when we returned from Yakima, explained the situation and they gave me a new twenty. Here's the interesting remark from the Customer Service Rep: "Well, it sure looks real to me!"

Only the special marking pen could reveal that the bill was counterfeit.

My spiritual application: Many times it's very difficult to distinguish the fakes in Christianity. Some people seem to have all the "appearances and designs" and look so real that the pros can't even pick up on their phoniness.

But, God has a "marking pen" that exposes the counterfeit. The blood of Jesus is the only distinguishing element that marks the believer as genuine. Without His "mark" on us we are as phony as that fake twenty-dollar bill.

I pray the Lord blesses you today.

Warmly, in His love and life,

Roland Scroggins

© 2006