I love to eat.  And lately, I’ve been slow to moving a whole lot.  The result is I’ve packed on some extra pounds that I would like to lose again.  My friend Clara and I had been working out at a gym in a local community center but we have taken a break due to conflicting busy schedules between us.

There is a new, huge, state-of-the-art exercise facility being built down the road from where I live.  I thought it was worth checking out.  The place is still under construction but they have a small retail space set up where you can get information and sign-up ahead of time to be a member of this new place.

Mr. Shaved-head, polished-muscle, work-out dude answered my questions.  With a sense of urgency, he offered me the special introductory membership price that his boss was “letting him” propose to prospects today.  He tempted me with the special price that most likely would be unavailable tomorrow.  I better hasten.  Ha!  I wasn’t born yesterday!  I asked Mr. Dude when his work-out palace was to be completed.  “November,” he answered.  Ha!  Ha-ha!  That’s four months away!  I said to him that I could not make a decision today and thought for sure that there would still be some special deals sometime over the next months.  Sorry Charlie…or whatever his name was.

Oh – I wasn’t harsh with him.  I was pleasant and thanked him when I left.

But the experience made me think …

I’ll bet he’s used that line on a lot of people.  Tempted with photos of a state-of-the-art exercise facility and teased with images of svelte bodies, prospective members probably signed up without hesitation so they could get the good price.

Thank goodness God does not “sell” salvation to us.  All He asks is for us to believe in Him.  There’s not a better offer tomorrow … or a better offer today that will confuse us.  There’s no temptation involved.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.

If you have been introduced to religions that try to ‘sell’ you something or offer special considerations, I would step back and take a second look if I were you.

As far as Mr. Dude – aww he was harmless enough and probably doing a great job in growing the new gym membership.  I don’t think I’ll join.  Not yet anyway.  I have to do some more looking around, or I may even go back to where I was working out before.  My extra pounds aren’t going anywhere.

“It is by grace you have been saved.”

Thank you Lord 🙂

just Laurel