Learning the nature of an original is so important. It helps us separate the real from the fake; it helps us to determine lust from an enduring life partnership; it helps us not mix up lies with truth; heck, it help us to not confuse Sunny Delight with real 100% orange juice.
But what if you've had Sunny D so long, that it is what you think of when you hear the word orange juice?
At a church I attended in the South, we often had wonderful full breakfasts with "orange juice" or Sunny Delight. The beverage's label was "orange juice" on the menu, the servers would offer it to you as "orange juice" (no quotations), and would sometimes even appear genuine with its yellow hue in my Styrofoam cup in dim lighting. But when I tasted it, I knew it was not orange juice because I had savored the real thing before. In fact, orange juice was my favorite morning beverage. I knew the flavor, the smell, and the look of orange juice, so when I was given Sunny D, I could tell the difference between the fake and the real thing.
I could expound on each of these here, but instead, I want us to think about the best, most loving relationship you've had. Whether its your mother, or a teacher who believed in you, if you are blessed to have one or more of the relationships described above, the "loving" part of the relationship should fit the following criteria (most of the time):
At a church I attended in the South, we often had wonderful full breakfasts with "orange juice" or Sunny Delight. The beverage's label was "orange juice" on the menu, the servers would offer it to you as "orange juice" (no quotations), and would sometimes even appear genuine with its yellow hue in my Styrofoam cup in dim lighting. But when I tasted it, I knew it was not orange juice because I had savored the real thing before. In fact, orange juice was my favorite morning beverage. I knew the flavor, the smell, and the look of orange juice, so when I was given Sunny D, I could tell the difference between the fake and the real thing.
Throughout the Bible, God shows us His character over, and over. Between the books of Genesis to Revelations, He shows us what true love is, especially through loving relationships we can identify with. In the beginning, during creation, He is a harmonious council with Himself (Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Genesis 1:26). He is God the Father (Matthew 6:9), Jesus, the firstborn brother (Romans 8:29), friend (John 15:15-17) and sacrificial husband (Ephesians 5:25) to His bride, the Church.
I could expound on each of these here, but instead, I want us to think about the best, most loving relationship you've had. Whether its your mother, or a teacher who believed in you, if you are blessed to have one or more of the relationships described above, the "loving" part of the relationship should fit the following criteria (most of the time):
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13: 6-8
Real love is not a lie, and it likes being genuine. It is not a secret and doesn't like to hide in the dark. It is not high fructose corn syrup and yellow die posing as natural fruit juices. It will tell you the truth, even when you might not want to hear it, it will keep you safe, and is willing to be vulnerable when you are the best of you, and when you are the worst of you. Bona fide love believes in the best you. It will not leave you on a whim and will come through every time you need it to. Did any of these things remind you of your loving relationship? Hopefully.
Have you mistaken an intimate relationship for orange juice, when it really is Sunny Delight? Or are you trying to pass off your Sunny D to God as the juice from orange He created?
When we truly understand the weight, depth, and supernatural nature of God's love, I believe we will compelled to a ride-or-die, real-talk kind of faith--full of hopeful endurance that we can't help but demonstrate.
I challenge you today to demonstrate an aspect of 1 Corinthians 13: 6-8 love to a stranger and a loved one today.
If you need inspiration, you may want to start with one of the topics of our next blog post: www.gems-girls.org
Great post! I really love the Sunny D metaphor, since I'm a stickler for natural foods :) Question for you: how would you encourage someone who is "thirsty" (in whatever sense of the word--I'm keeping with the metaphor) to wait on the real orange juice? The Sunny D, whether it be the actual beverage, or a stand-in for a less-than intimate relationship or a something else, might feel like the only thing that would quench one's thirst? So how does someone remain patient while waiting when they know that Sunny D is in front of them and the orange juice they seek might not come (either in the way they want it to, or at all?). Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Glad it was relevant to you.
ReplyDeleteI'll continue to answer with the "thirsty" metaphor. 1) First, we have to keep reminding ourselves of what the real thing is. For the Christian, it is worship and adoration for God, filling your heart and mind with scriptural truth, and doing things that glorify God (see point 2).
Jesus used this same metaphor to describe the work of the Holy Spirit:
"On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, "If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say." 39Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him."
John 7:37-39
2)Second: We must quench our thirst with something that won't spike our blood glucose (sugar levels) and leave us feeling empty later. In the natural that could be water, metaphorically, it something that is the "fruit" of the Holy Spirit referenced above. Examples of these fruits are acts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
The sweetness of real fruit is designed to satisfy and sustain!
3) Last, but not least:Get from around the stuff. Scripture says: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil [temptation], and he will flee from you. James 4:7.
Remember:" No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. "
1 Corinthians 10:13
I hope this helps!