Friday's Devotion: A Spoon, Peter Pan, and Me

John 17:3 (CEB)  This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent.

Tonight I found myself with a jar of Peter Pan Peanut Butter in one hand and a spoon in the other.  This is not a regular occurrence believe me, but sometimes I can’t resist.  I had tried to be good and buy a lower fat version.  As I held the jar I noticed the phrase “60% peanuts” on the side in smallish print.  Sixty percent peanuts?  What kind of peanut butter is that?  Then I saw other words I hadn’t noticed before.  They said “peanut spread.”  I didn’t even have real peanut butter!  I quickly put it back in the pantry and vowed to go get some more of the Private Selection organic peanut butter that I like. If you look at the big stuff – pictures and phrases on the jar of peanut spread they look just like that on the jar of real Peter Pan peanut butter, but when you read the fine print the difference becomes apparent.

I don’t want fake products, except maybe a little fake fur.  And I don’t want a fake faith, but recently I’ve seen evidence of that in others. Maybe it’s not a fake faith but a faith that is misinformed.  To really know the only true God and Jesus Christ is to know love, not hate and bigotry. I had just read an article online by UM Bishop Will Willimon who was expressing unhappiness because he, too had seen too much evidence of this.  That’s probably why I ended up with the peanut butter.  If you can’t control the world eat comfort food! In the meantime, please join me in prayer that people will not use their misinformed faith to hurt others and pray for the groups who have been the objects of their derision.  We are all God’s creation and equally loved by God.

Heavenly Father, help us to abide in your love and to never lose sight of your great love for all of your creation.  We pray for peace in this world in the name of your Son, the Prince of Peace.  Amen.