BENEFITS Program...

For the first time in my adult life… I completely disconnected myself from cable TV when I moved here to Tennessee.  My kids and even the Direct TV cable installer back in Oklahoma, tried their best to convince me to drop cable and go the way of streaming services.  But you know what they say about teaching an old dog new tricks… back then, I was still pretty raw from the loss of my wife and I wasn’t ready to let go of anything I was used to and try some new-fangled technology!

But with the exciting promise of a new season in my life opening up with a fresh start in Tennessee, I threw caution to the wind and started doing some research on the various streaming services available.  So now I have five select subscriptions, have pretty much the same channels (and more!) as before and am paying about half the price as the cable service I had in Oklahoma!  So yea… I am a happy camper!

The only thing about it that I am NOT too happy about though, is the constant bombardment of health insurance ads that continually repeat themselves throughout whatever program I seem to be watching during the Annual Medicare Open Enrollment period that comes up every year at this time.  So yes, I did get the same ads back in Oklahoma on cable TV… but nothing like on the streaming services.  In fact… they not only run the ads but then run them 2 to sometimes even 3 times in a row. 

And then on top of that… the ads seem to be addressed to imbeciles as the announcers talk with slow pronunciation and treat the target audience (seniors… like me…) as if they were Kindergarteners!  Okay… sorry for the personal rant, but for someone who successfully researched and then navigated through all the various BENEFITS and disability programs in four different states for my sick wife and myself as well… without assistance… I guess I can’t help but to be a bit perturbed at their preconceptions of us seniors.

But alas… speaking of BENEFITS that I am NOT perturbed at hearing about and taking advantage of each and everyday…  The Bible in Ephesians 1:22-23 tells us that God is also into BENEFIT programs that are in fact, FREE and available for both you and me today!  The Apostle Paul stated that,

“God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him (to be) head over all things for the BENEFIT of the church.  Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.  (New Living Translation / KJV)

And… just like the various BENEFIT programs that are available through Medicare policies as well as with any other Health Insurance… the Bible acts as the printed (and in its case - living) official handbook that contains all the important information that explains each and every BENEFIT available to its members… just like us members of the Body of Christ.

There is a major difference though, in my comparisons between the various BENEFITS available to us as members of the Body of Christ and membership within the worldly Health Policies across our country.  One of the things that the annoying Medicare Open Enrollment advertisements do clarify, is that the BENEFITS that the different companies offer… vary from state to state, county to county and even amongst different Zip Codes.

But NOT so with the BENEFITS available to the Body of Christ.  For Christians, it doesn’t matter where you may live (anywhere in the world – in fact!), how old you are, what your monthly income is, your past or your future or whether you live a perfect life or not!  It’s the all-encompassing plan of God’s BENEFITS program for you and me… and it is fully funded and made available to us through God’s GRACE and FAVOR!

I like the way that Paul emphasized this point through his heart-felt prayer by which he concluded many of his letters to the churches writing,

“May the GRACE and FAVOR of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (TPT)

I’ve read commentaries that say that Paul’s introductory and closing statements are just normal customary salutations and nothing more… But I don’t agree, I firmly believe that every word that every writer in the Bible wrote – under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – is “living and active” and “sharper than any two-edged sword…”*

I’m experientially convinced that Paul wrote to encourage and empower us to take advantage of all that Jesus provided for us through His death, burial, resurrection and assentation to the right hand of God.

And So… You might be asking about now in this post of just how we do that?  How do we take advantage of the BENEFITS available to us… Well… it starts out by doing some research in the official heavenly handbook of God’s BENEFITS program… the BIBLE!

I would suggest that you pick up one of the many modern translations that are easier to understand, along with a notebook and a pen or pencil (I prefer pencils so I can erase my misspelled words… or re-write words so I can read them later on… my writing can get a little squished together!) and start reading!  It’s as simple as that.  As you make that to be a daily habit you’ll discover more and more of the BENEFITS that our heavenly Father has especially made for you and me!  (It might also be a good idea to highlight or underline the various BENEFITS that you come upon… Watch for the phrase “In Christ” for it is a good key to focus in on and learn what that portion of scripture says is yours “In Christ!”)

Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC weekend!  We have clear skies but some cool weather.  It was in the 30’s when I got up this morning and barley in the 40’s on my morning walk today.  If this keeps up… I may have to dig out my big boy (long) pants!

Bye for now…

 

 

*See: Hebrews 4:12 / God’s Word ©