Yes, I’m adopted.
My folks were not blessed
With me in the usual way.
But they picked me,
they chose me,
From all the rest,
Which is lots more than most kids can say.

“Jake Says” by Shel Silverstein

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Adopted. Picked. Chosen.

What wonderful words to be described by! Furthermore, what a blessing for any woman to receive the gift of a child for her own loving son or daughter.

Adoption…it’s been going on for thousands of years, but is still misunderstood by so many. Truth be told, it is only through my own experience as an adoptive mother that I have come to understand (and so adore) this wonderful journey of becoming a mother to the motherless.

I remember that when I was a little girl, I was always thoroughly confused by the story in 1 Kings 3:16-28. You know it…the one about the two women who came to King Solomon fighting over a baby. I will include a portion of it below:

• 23: Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
  
• 24: And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
• 25: And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
• 26: Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
• 27: Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
• 28: And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

1 Kings 3:23-28

I remember wondering in my youth how accurate King Solomon’s “DNA test” was – I mean sure, it was nice and all that the one lady didn’t want the baby to die, but how did that really prove the baby’s biological relation to her? It wasn’t until years later when I became a mother, that this stark reality hit me right in the face…

It didn’t prove it. Furthermore, it didn’t matter! King Solomon’s wisdom was not in finding out who gave birth to the child. No, the test was so much more than that. A mother is not measured by whether or not she gives birth to her child…but by whether or not she gives worth to her child. This woman’s motherhood was proven not by a DNA Test, but by a simple Mother’s Love Test. The true mother was blatantly obvious to the king – she was the one who had the best interest of her child at the forefront of her mind. I still don’t know to this day if the baby went home with his biological mother – but I know with complete certainty that he went home with his real mother.

• If you are biologically related to your children, don’t go anywhere! This message is not only for adoptive mothers, but to all mothers of every shape and form. I hope that your relationship will be strengthened with your child as you ponder how to attain motherhood at its finest.
• If you are contemplating adoption, I hope my words will encourage you to be all you can be for the child in your future. I hope that you will be prepared to build a bond with your new son or daughter that will tie you together through eternity.
• If you are an adoptive mother, I hope that you will find positive affirmation in my message. I hope that you will see the authenticity of who you are…and never, ever feel as if you’re not the real deal.
• If you are a naysayer, I hope that you will consider the reasoning behind your opposition. I hope that you will come to see that being a mother is so, so much more than matching DNA.

– Today we are going to ask ourselves this important question:

“Am I a real mother, or am I a fraud?”

Let us find out by three simple tests…

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1. A real mother provides needs.

Take a moment to think about your child in regard to his/her physical needs.
Are you the primary caretaker of your child’s body?

Who…

• Prepares their meals?
• Buys their clothes?
• Supplies them with a warm bed?

Some would claim to be mothers solely on the basis of having given birth to a child, but how legitimate is their so-called motherhood if they do not oversee the care of the child’s physical needs once he/she is on the other side of the womb? One woman might oversee a child’s physical needs for a mere nine months, while another oversees that same child’s needs for some eighteen years. It seems to me rather obvious which one is the real mother of the child, but here is a hint on her identity:

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. – Proverbs 31:27

A real mother is physically present to her child. She can not mother from a distance! To call a woman who does not dwell with her offspring “the child’s real mother” is a misnomer.

Now I want to be very clear that I am not belittling or bashing women who choose to give a child up for adoption. This choice is often made through careful deliberation and perhaps much pain. Many times it is in the best interest of the child. Giving a child up for adoption does not necessarily make a biological mother a bad person (though there are exceptions, i.e.: her rights were relinquished involuntarily for abandonment and neglect). HOWEVER, once the decision has been made to sever the former parent/child relationship, the biological mother is no longer the mother to the child. Is she contemptible for this? Absolutely not…but the fact still remains that the child’s adoptive mother is now Mom in every sense from there on out.

Natural Child: Any child who is not artificial.
Real Parent: Any parent who is not imaginary.
Your Own Child: Any child who is not someone else’s child.
Adopted Child: A natural child, with a real parent, who is all my own.

– Rita Laws PHD, OURS: The Magazine of Adoptive Families

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2. A real mother promotes deeds.

Take a moment to think about your child in regard to his/her emotional needs.
Are you the primary caretaker of your child’s soul?

Who…

• Spends time training them?
• Points out their talents?
• Sets them up for success?

A real mother promotes deeds by fashioning her child’s day…by setting his/her hands towards productivity and growth. She sees the good in her child and encourages it. She sees the bad and nips it in the bud! She is the guiding light that molds her children into the very best version of themselves.

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. – Psalms 127:4

It baffles me that there are women out there who call a child theirs whom they have not shaped in any way, and know virtually nothing about. A real mother knows her child because she spends her life with her child. She makes it her priority to learn his/her individual personality so that she can train accordingly. The mother/child relationship she has with her child grows daily, because as they spend time together they build a greater and more lasting bond.

Time and experience have taught me a priceless lesson: Any child you take for your own becomes your own if you give of yourself to that child. I have born two children and had seven others by adoption, and they are all my children, equally beloved and precious.

– Dale Evans

A real mother knows her child’s favorite color, and what kind of food he hates, and what he wants to be when he grows up. She is her child’s biggest fan. A real mother is known not by the relation she holds, but by the station she holds.

Any woman who would attempt to steal the role or title of mother, having little to no connection to the child in question is as selfish as they come. Real motherhood is blood, sweat, and tears…it is hard work and toil. It is not abandoning a child when the going gets rough and then deciding down the road you want to reap the fruits of another’s labor. What cruelty to the heart of the one who has raised the child and invested their life in them!

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. – Psalm 113:9

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3. A Real Mother Produces Seeds.

Take a moment to think about your child in regard to his/her spiritual needs.
Are you the primary caretaker of your child’s spirit?

Who…

• Prays with them?
• Reads the bible to them?
• Takes them to church?

God’s word urges parents to lead their children’s thoughts heavenward continually…day by day. A real mother does not neglect this task but seeks to make every moment count as she trains her children up spiritually.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. – Deuteronomy 6:6-7

I believe it is safe to say that to have the kind of parent/child relationship described above, one must be with their child day in and day out. As parents, it is our duty to train our children up in the way they should go. This is motherhood at its very realest.

It should be noted that even Jesus himself placed a far greater priority on such spiritual relations than biological relations:

There came then his brethren and his mother, and standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. – Mark 3:31-35

Our Lord is a great advocate for adoption. In fact, adoption is how we become a member of God’s family! (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5) We were born to a world of sin and destruction. Would we identify with this evil world because we are in a sense its biological offspring? God forbid that this would be so! Rather we are to be identified by our true, real, and adoptive father…God.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. – Psalms 68:5

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. – Psalms 27:10

If your desire is to be the most authentic mother possible to your child, this is the way to do it:

Be a godly example to them. Lead from the front – they need to see you refraining from sin as well as seeking to do good continually. They need to know that God is number one in your life! Example is important, but do not neglect also to help your child see truth for themselves. Teach them God’s word…show them the right way to go…make faith real to them personally! Caring for the body and soul of your child can build a lifetime bond. Caring for the spirit of your child can build an eternal bond.

My birth mother brought me into this world, but it was my adoptive parents who gave me life. – Christina Romo

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In conclusion…

A real mother is one who truly loves her child. This is not in her imagination, but in reality.

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. – 1 John 3:18

To understand adoption, we must rise above carnality. We must embrace the ability to love someone irrevocably without biological relation. It is not by DNA, but by these three characteristics that you will know a real mother:

1. Is she providing needs? (of the body)
2. Is she promoting deeds? (of the soul)
3. Is she producing seeds? (of the spirit)

Bottom line: There are birth mothers who are real mothers, and there are those who are not. There are also adoptive mothers who are real mothers, and still…there are those who are not. The test lies herein: If a woman can be identified by her performance of the three traits above, then you will know that she assuredly has – The Mark of a Mother.

I didn’t give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.
For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn’t give you
The gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you.

– Unknown

Most people like adoption. I’m happy I got adopted, because I have a good mom! I have the best mom in the world! – My seven year old son (adopted, picked, and chosen)

For God’s Glory,
Mrs. Dustin Bolks

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Mrs. Dustin Bolks is a church of Christ preacher’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.

Everything’s wrong,
Days are too long,
Sunshine’s too hot,
Wind is too strong.
Clouds are too fluffy,
Grass is too green,
Ground is too dusty,
Sheets are too clean.
Stars are too twinkly,
Moon is too high,
Water’s too drippy,
Sand is too dry.
Rocks are too heavy,
Feathers too light,
Kids are too noisy,
Shoes are too tight.
Folks are too happy
Singin’ their songs.
Why can’t they see it?
Everything’s wrong!

– Mr. Grumpledump’s Song by Shel Silverstein

Have you ever had one of those days when “everything’s wrong”? (Honestly, who hasn’t?) I’m sure we all can relate to this poem. There are some days when it seems we wake up on the wrong side of the bed and meet the day with a gloomy attitude like Mr. Grumpledump. On these days, no matter what good is in front of us, we wouldn’t see it if it hit us right upside the head! There’s a name for this condition: THANKLESSNESS. We can sugar-coat it all we want by blaming our attitude on outside factors, but it’s time we face the music: a thankless attitude is our own choice!

Here we are heading towards another Thanksgiving – one day out of 365 we Americans have set apart in which to be extra thankful…stuff our faces like there’s no tomorrow. Sadly, I can’t help thinking that on this day (as well as others) we’re not so thankful as we are…full. Most of us have everything we need and more, yet are not all that thankful for what we have. Instead, we whine and complain about the things that we don’t have, or how the things we do have aren’t just how we want them. This is not befitting for a child of God!

God’s word calls us not only to be genuinely thankful on Thanksgiving Day, but to be a thankful people every single day of the year. Maybe to some who are reading this, becoming thankful seems as unattainable as climbing Mount Everest. Perhaps you grew up in a home where complaining and dissatisfaction reigned, and rarely a word of thanksgiving was uttered. Maybe you’ve been a pessimist for years! If this is true for you, don’t fret. Thankfulness – like any true christian virtue – is a choice rather than a feeling. Every one of us can purpose today to be more aware of our blessings…and thanking the mighty God who has given us so much more than we deserve.

Today we are going to consider the five S’s that every Christian has to be thankful for. Even if it seems like everything’s wrong… even if it seems like your life is in absolute shambles…there are five blessings that no one can ever take away from you. Let’s take a few moments to recognize and honor them…

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1. Our Salvation

Woah, woah, woah. Hold the phone. If I stopped here on point one I would have already mentioned far more than we deserve! You’re probably thinking “okay, Captain Obvious…everybody knows that we’re supposed to be thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice…” Yet this gift of salvation is sadly taken for granted by all of us at times. The sad thing is that we often don’t even think we do take it for granted.

Are we thankful for our salvation? I don’t mean the thankful facade that says apathetically: “I acknowledge that this is a nice thing that I have”. No, I mean actually thankful. Here is the test: Is it evident in our lives that this is the best gift we could have ever received? Do we show God every day just how thankful we are for having been sanctified? If not, today is the day to start!

How can we show thankfulness for our salvation?

– We can show thankfulness for our salvation by talking about it to our children. We must express to them how much better life in Christ is than life out in the wilderness. Then, we must model it with a cheerful disposition! No frumpy, dumpy, grouchy mom is going to convince her kids that becoming a christian is desirable. Thanklessness and thankfulness are both catching…let’s ask ourselves which we want our sons and daughters to grow into, and be that ourselves! Raising our children for Christ is a great way to show salvation appreciation.

– We can show thankfulness for our salvation by being content with less in this life. For every bad thing that happens to us, we can choose to let it destroy us – OR – we can let it serve as a humble reminder of the dead, cursed state of a world without God. Trouble serves to point us back to the cross and realize our great need for it, IF we let it have this effect. Had we not known pain in this world, how could we truly long for the joy of Heaven? Our attitudes towards our struggles can paint a great testimony to others of victory in Jesus.

– We can show thankfulness for our salvation by living it…daily! Thanking God with a cheerful disposition is good; avoiding complaining in the midst of affliction is also good. Yet neither one mean a whole lot if we are living the life of a sinner. The best way to say thank you to God for our salvation is by completely submitting ourself to His ways…the ways that are laid out in His holy book. Imagine a child saying to his parents “thanks for the food, Dad and Mom” as he proceeds to pick at it disgustedly and then dump it in the trash. It wouldn’t seem like he was all that thankful for it, would it? God isn’t fooled by our shoddy “gratitude”, either. Thankfulness isn’t merely a feeling, but a behavior to be expressed. “Thank You” isn’t just a nice thing to say, but something to show that we really mean!

Genuine thankfulness is an act of the heart’s affections, not an act of the lips’ muscles. – John Piper

Girls, 2 Corinthians 9:15 calls salvation an “unspeakable gift”. Do we believe this to be true? We must know this not only in our heads, but also in our hearts. Salvation is out of the park AMAZING – better than any other blessing we have. If we aren’t soberly thanking God for it every single day, how can we really be thankful for anything else?

Let it never be said of us that:

…when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. – Romans 1:21

Let us thank God daily for our Salvation.

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2. Our Security

Security is to salvation as icing is to a cake. It just makes the christian life that much sweeter. We do not have a God who leaves us to our own demise as He looks carelessly on. We have a God who directs us and protects us!

Are we thankful for our security? We are so blessed to know that no matter what danger comes our way, we have security in Christ. Once we have been saved, nothing but our own choice will ever separate us from Heaven. We may in this life endure ridicule, cruelty, or even death…but we will never be ripped from our Lord.

How can we show thankfulness for our security?

– We can show thankfulness for our security by thinking courageously. There are many alarming things in life that can weigh on our minds, and give cause for fear. A fear of change…a fear of rejection…a fear of illness or death…a fear of failure…these are all very real concerns that can plague us all. Yet a thankful heart will not choose to dwell on fears such as these. When we worry, we’re sending the message that our hope in the next life is not enough to carry us through this one! When we have times of extreme worry and doubt, these are the times when we need to devote ourselves more earnestly to prayer. God will give us the peace of mind we need if we will simply let go of what’s weighing us down!

– We can show thankfulness for our security by speaking courageously. Many christians in this generation have lost their courage! We have turned into a wimpy people afraid of speaking out for fear of offending anyone. While it is true that we should not seek to be offensive, we also must be bold in sharing God’s truth. We can’t be paralyzed by fear of making someone dislike us! If we want others to join us in Heaven, we’re going to have to talk about God and speak out against sin. We might lose a few friends along the way, but it is a small price to pay when there are others who may be converted because of our courageous speech!

– We can show thankfulness for our security by living courageously. A person who is thankful for their security will not only be unafraid to think and speak courageously, but will also live in a courageous way. This means we will always do the right thing even if it makes us look and feel out of place. Let us not be afraid of the repercussions of Christ-like behavior. After all, this world is not our home!

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. – John 10:27-29

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. – Hebrews 13:5

Let us thank God daily for our Security.

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3. Our Sorority

Not only has our great God so graciously given us salvation and security, but He has also given us a sorority to belong to – His church!

Are we truly thankful for the church? It’s no small gift that God has given us a place of respite from our worldly cares – a place where the common bond of Christ unites!

How can we show thankfulness for our sorority?

– We can show thankfulness for our sorority by never forsaking the assembly! How can we say we love Christ’s church if we don’t faithfully link ourselves with it? It is as absurd as saying “I love my husband. I’m thankful for him, but I don’t share his bed, make love to him, cook his meals, or do activities with him. I prefer to keep to myself.” Ummm….no, that’s not how it works. You must choose to be either in the fold or out! (Hint: choose to be in)

– We can show thankfulness for our sorority by uplifting it with our words! We must never gossip about our brothers and sisters in Christ, or put them down in any way to others. Rather, if we must rebuke someone, we should do it privately and in a spirit of love. When we are speaking of the church to the outside world? Let’s always put it in its best light for all to see! This is Christ’s bride we’re talking about. Jesus will not stand for us tearing her down!

– We can show thankfulness for our sorority by doing good to the brotherhood. We must do good to all men, but especially to those that are of the household of faith. We ought to be quick to say an encouraging word. Go out of our way to ease a fellow Christian’s workload. Invite them to spend time with us at our homes. I’m sure we can think of something to brighten a day!

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing brethren beloved, your election of God. – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth. – 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Let us thank God daily for our Sorority.

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4. Our Sanity

As christians, we have been blessed with sanity…a soundness of mind that is not present within the world. Our eyes have been opened to the truth!

Are we thankful for our sanity? Without it, we would be fumbling around in the dark. It is because of sanity that we made the conscious choice to become a follower of Christ. It is because of sanity that we continue to grow into a deeper relationship with the Father.

How can we show thankfulness for our sanity?

– We can show thankfulness for our sanity by studying God’s word daily. We must not let our bibles gather dust! A sane person must continually exercise their spiritual mind to keep it in sharp working order. Now we ought to be actively studying it, not solely reading it. Pleasure reading is not exactly what helps us to grow. Rather, we should desire to grow more and more in wisdom as we pore over scripture, striving to know truth to the fullest!

– We can show thankfulness for our sanity by helping others to see the light. If we truly value our sanity, will we not want others to experience this same enlightenment? Whether you are speaking to a seasoned christian or someone outside the faith, there is always a truth that can revealed that will help that individual to understand God on a more intimate level. If you have something important to teach, then teach it!

– We can show thankfulness for our sanity by avoiding the “wisdom” of the world. There will always be some high society bloke who will run at the mouth against God and make it sound logical. However, what a shame to listen to such folly! It doesn’t matter what anyone says…for the world’s wisdom is foolishness to God. Get away from those who would seek to destroy your sanity. If we listen to people who are anti-God then we just may find ourselves becoming a little more like them as time goes on. We must surround ourselves with godly influence lest we be deceived by the enemy!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. – Romans 8:6

Let us thank God daily for our Sanity.

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5. Our Skills

Last but certainly not least, every christian has skills – spiritual gifts that they have been given by God!

Are we thankful for our skills? The skills that we have enable us to work for the Lord in our own unique capacity. They give us a way to bring glory to our Lord while doing something we enjoy – something we were literally made for!

How can we show thankfulness for our skills?

– We can show thankfulness for our skills by recognizing them. So many people have yet to discover their Heaven-sent abilities. This is sad! If we don’t recognize our skills, then we can’t possibly understand or use them! Find out what you are good at. Is there anything you have a particular passion for that you can hone in on and use to further God’s kingdom?

– We can show thankfulness for our skills by understanding them. Once we have revealed what our unique spiritual gifts are, we must begin doing our homework on them! It’s a good idea to ask ourselves what the particular strengths and weaknesses are with our skills…when to use our skills and when to hold back…and how Satan might attempt to twist a skill we have to serve his purposes.

– We can show thankfulness for our skills by using them. A skill that sits on a dusty shelf doesn’t have much value; but a skill that is practiced towards perfection? A priceless asset! Don’t think that just because you are one person that it won’t matter what you do with your gifts. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Our Captain needs all hands on deck!

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 15:58

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. – Hebrews 6:10

Let us thank God daily for our Skills.

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I hope that whenever you are having a Mr. Grumpledump sort of day, you will stop and remember the five S’s of thankfulness. We all need to remember that no matter what outside forces are working against us, we will always have (at the very least) these things to be thankful for. Not even death can separate us from our God-given salvation, security, sorority, sanity, or skills! Let us hide this in our hearts, and be glad. He is good!

I think that is a better thing than thanksgiving: thanks-living. How is this to be done? By a general cheerfulness of manner, by an obedience to the command of Him by whose mercy we live, by a perpetual, constant delighting of ourselves in the Lord, and by a submission of our desires to His will. – Charles Spurgeon

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of thanksgiving. – W.T. Purkiser

For God’s Glory,
Mrs. Dustin Bolks

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Mrs. Dustin Bolks is a church of Christ preacher’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.

Yes, I invented “trick or treat”
So you could fill your mouth with sweets –
Candy bars and lemon drops,
Marshmallows and Tootsie Pops,
Butterscotch and bubble gum.
Hold out your hand – they’ll give you some
Chocolate kisses, Jujubes,
Sourballs and jelly beans.
Have a cake – some cookies too.
Take a couple – grab a few
Peppermint sticks and Mary Janes,
Licorice whips and candy canes.
Slurp some soda, munch a pie,
Don’t let those M&M’s go by,
Chew that toffee, munch those treats,
Get that caramel in your teeth.
Then come see me, I’ll be here –
I’m your friendly dentist, dear.

– The One Who Invented Trick or Treat by Shel Silverstien

Swindled. Hoodwinked. Bamboozled. Deceived.

I can’t help but wonder if the duped child in the poem would feel that his Halloween indulgence was worth it? As he leans back in the dental seat getting his rotten teeth pulled out, I wonder if maybe, just maybe…he might wish he wouldn’t have listened to that trickster! While a humorous poem, it also has a sobering truth attached to it – sometimes what seems like a treat is really a nasty trick!

The deceptive dentist in this story reminds me of the original deceiver – Satan himself. He sees our desire for a treat and he sneakily puts a well-disguised trick in front of us instead.

On October 31, children all over will be walking door to door asking this age old question: “trick or treat?!” Now it certainly doesn’t take a brain surgeon to know what each child yearns for – a treat. In fact, they might as well shorten the phrase TO “treat” as it would save the children valuable time and get them on their merry little way to the next person’s door! Granted, most of the people who answer their door to trick-or-treaters are civilized and want nothing more than to make some little one smile. Yet there is always a risk of those who would ruin innocent fun with ill-intent…

Every parent approaches trick or treating with caution, especially in an unfamiliar neighborhood. There are too many crazies out there to just trust anyone to have upright motives towards our children. Any person that opens their door could be a potential predator, and we must exercise great care to keep our kids from danger! If it isn’t enough to think that someone could possibly harm the child on their doorstep by brute force, another concern that we might have is the tainting of the candy itself!

There is an unsettling irony here. While an innocent child might ask a stranger, “trick or treat?”, the stranger might in fact give them a trick under the guise of a treat…a devilish scheme akin to that of the original trickster himself.

Just like children do on Halloween night, we adults go through life with an extended spiritual basket, asking, “trick or treat?”. Just like a child, I daresay that most of would rather be treated than tricked. Children must practice safety precautions in the physical sense on Halloween, but all of us need to be on the lookout for spiritual dangers every day. We have an enemy who is both ruthless and cunning, and we need to know what dangers to watch out for!

So, friends…

– What do you seek out of your “spiritual basket”?

– Are you looking for a trick, or a treat?

– Is it possible that you have been given a trick FOR a treat?

– How can you be sure?

There are three red flags to look for. Shall we discover them? Let’s each one of us take a few moments to empty out our baskets and sort out the good candy from the bad…

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1. Throw Away Any “Treat” That Is Un-sealed…

There are articles galore warning parents to look out for Halloween candy that is given un-sealed! If candy is un-sealed, there’s a chance that the giver may have poisoned it, laced it with drugs, or at the least made it unsanitary in some fashion. The general consensus is: if it’s un-sealed, it goes straight to the garbage bin.

Take a look in your spiritual basket. Has someone tried to give YOU an un-sealed trick for a treat?

John 3 and 2 Corinthians 1 speak of being “sealed” by God. With that in mind, let us think of each one of us as a piece of candy. The picture is this: like a wrapper on a candy, Jesus is a covering for us. In return, we wear his brand. One must be sealed by God in order to be saved. We can not enter into heaven unless we have been covered by Jesus’ blood, and we can not enter into heaven wearing any other brand but that of Christ.

There will be those who will try to deceive and tell you that it is just fine and dandy to be un-sealed. These individuals believe, and will do everything in their power to convince YOU that God is nothing more than an imaginary friend for weak-minded children. They claim that you don’t need a God to have a fulfilling life, but that you should “live the life you please”. This is no new “enlightenment”, but a folly as old as the hills…

…evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. – 2 Timothy 3:13

The unbeliever is deceived. Would you be like unto him? I can think of no unhappier life than that of a non-christian. Sure, they might appear to be having a good time on the surface…but where is their true joy? At the end of the day, life that has been lived with no higher purpose than that of the animal kingdom (eat, drink, and be merry) is meaningless and void of all merit.

I believe that the true reason that many do not admit to a higher power is the personal responsibility that it requires. If there is a God (I speak from the unbeliever’s perspective, not my own) then it would mean that one would have to subdue himself to that higher power! Let’s be honest…it is so much easier to shut our eyes and ears to the truth than it is to change our ways.

Pure truth, like pure gold, has been found unfit for circulation, because men have discovered that it is far more convenient to adulterate the truth than to refine themselves. – Charles Caleb Colton

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. – Psalm 14:1a

If your basket contains an un-sealed treat, throw it out!
Mankind – as well as Halloween candy – must be sealed.

He that hath received his testimony hath set to his SEAL that God is true. – John 3:33

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also SEALED us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. – 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

If being un-sealed means to be without Christ, then here are some tips to safeguard against un-sealed “treats”…

1. Surround yourself with those of strong faith, and limit time with those who whisper doubts into your mind.

Be not deceived: evil communication corrupts good manners. – 1 Corinthians 15:33

2. Pray earnestly that God would help you to overcome your doubts.

…Lord, I believe: help thou mine unbelief. – Mark 9:24b

3. Read the personal accounts of those who have turned from unbelief/atheism to christianity (whether biblical accounts or more recent).

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. – Titus 3:3

4. Use your God-given talents to serve the Lord rather than being a passive observer in the assembly.

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise. – Hebrews 6:11-12

5. Open your eyes to the intelligent design all around you, and allow yourself to be captivated with God’s creation once again.

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

– Romans 1:19-20

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2. Throw Away Any “Treat” That Is Self-Sealed…

The same articles that encourage parents to throw away un-sealed candy, warn us to be careful giving our children any self-sealed candy. There are some houses that give away homemade treats. Now some of these instances might be harmless enough, but it’s worth considering that a homemade treat has a higher possibility of having been tainted…any step of the candy-making process might have lent a predator opportunity for contamination.

Take a look in your spiritual basket. Has someone tried to give you a self-sealed trick for a treat?

Similar to the un-believer or atheist, those people in the world who are self-sealed do not wear Christ’s brand. However, atheism is an uncomfortable extreme for some, so there are those middle-grounders who would like to consider themselves “spiritual”, while dismissing the validity of the bible. These individuals may not proclaim “anything goes” as loudly as the atheist, but live by what they often refer to as their “moral code”. In other words, they have some morals…but self chosen ones, and often very loose ones at that.

There is a grave danger in living the self-sealed lifestyle. A moral code chosen by one’s own self is subjective, easily modified, and often hypocritical. For example, if one is not tempted towards stealing, they might easily take a firm stance against it. Yet that same person might have a sinful bend towards lying and see no harm in it. Of course these are both sins, but with no God to define them as such, who gets to call the shots on what is and isn’t right to do?

Man has always sacrificed truth to his vanity, comfort and advantage. He lives not by truth but by make-believe – W. Somerset Maugham

If we say that we have no sin, we DECEIVE ourselves, and the truth is not in us. – 1 John 1:8

Be not DECEIVED: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. – Galatians 6:7

Spirituality isn’t Build-A-Bear-Workshop. There is a divine blueprint that tells us how to live – God’s word. If you want to be a ballerina, you go to ballet class. If you want to learn how to build bridges, you consult with an engineer. If you want to be spiritual, you go to the living, breathing, spirit of God which speaks to us through the Holy Bible.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. – 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

If your basket contains a self-sealed treat, throw it out!
Mankind must be Spirit-sealed.

If being self-sealed means to have a religion of one’s own making, then here are some tips to safeguard against self-sealed “treats”…

1. Focus much more daily time and thought on spiritual things than on secular.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. – Romans 8:5

2. Continually remind yourself that you are God’s handmaiden, and remember that you were created FOR Him.

…all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. – Colossians 1:16b-17

3. Compare the consequences of a self-led life as opposed to one that is flourishing in Christ.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. – Romans 8:2

4. Avoid conversations with foolish people who try to tell you that YOU are the master of your own destiny, YOU should follow your heart, YOU deserve to make your own way…

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. – Proverbs 28:26

5. Identify the areas in which you are self-willed. Replace those habits with new ones!

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not DECEIVED: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

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3. Throw Away Any “Treat” That Is Re-Sealed…

We have thrown away the un-sealed candies, and the self-sealed candies. Now we come to the most hazardous and least noticeable danger of all: the re-sealed candies. There are those predators who would be so bold as to remove a perfectly safe piece of candy from its original wrapping, replace it with a harmful look-alike, and re-seal the candy to look as good as new.

Take a look in your spiritual basket. A good, long, hard look…because this time you’ll have to inspect much closer than you had to before. Has someone tried to give you a re-sealed trick for a treat?

There are those who claim Christ, but are not true to his brand. They might go to church, pray, and live a seemingly admirable lifestyle, but still have not fully submitted themselves to God’s plan. These might be fellow church-members, deacons, elders, ministers, friends, relatives….it might even be you. It’s extremely difficult to tell a re-sealed candy from an original without a thorough inspection.

Satan is crafty, and one of his favorite techniques in deception goes by the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” philosophy. He has infiltrated churches everywhere and deceived the minds of many would-be followers of Christ.

One way many have been deceived is in the area of salvation. It might sound hard to believe, but think about it – what could delight Satan more than in tricking people to believe they are saved when they really aren’t? It’s the ultimate scheme!

Life is the art of being well deceived; and in order that the deception may succeed it must be habitual and uninterrupted – William Hazlitt

For sin, taking occasion BY THE COMMANDMENT, DECEIVED me, and by it slew me. – Romans 7:11

There are many denominations all over the world who are being led astray by false teachers. The way I see it, there are two different kinds of false teachers – the malicious ones, and the ignorant ones. Some are leading the congregation in a wrong direction for personal gain, tickling their ears and giving watered down sermons that bring in the multitudes. On the other hand, there are some well-meaning leaders who have unknowingly misled others, perhaps because they have not studied deep enough to find out the real truth of what they are teaching. Whether maliciously or unknowingly, false teachers are a stumbling block to many.

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? – Galatians 3:1

HOWEVER – each member is responsible for his or her own salvation. One can not neglect their own personal bible study and blame their lack of knowledge upon someone else. It is our duty to search the scriptures and apply our hearts to wisdom.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to DECEIVE. – Ephesians 4:14

If your basket contains a re-sealed “treat”, throw it out!
Mankind must be reason-sealed.

If being re-sealed means to have a false sense of Christianity, then here are some tips to safeguard against re-sealed “treats”…

1. Examine yourself to see if you have truly been saved according to God’s plan of salvation. If you are – GREAT – no harm done in checking, right? If you are not, then why wait another second longer? Today is the day to be saved!

Questions to ask yourself:

Do I believe wholeheartedly in the God of the bible? (Hebrews 11:6)
Have I confessed with my mouth, and do I continue to confess with my attitude that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 4:15)
Have I repented of my sins and do I live each day trying my hardest to abstain from them? (Acts 3:19)
Have I been baptized (immersed in water as a believing adult) for the purpose of removing my sins, as God has designated as the symbol for the death, burial, and resurrection of my old carnal nature? (Acts 22:16)

2. Study your bible daily. Don’t just read it – pore over it. Seek God’s will in every area of your life (body, soul, spirit).

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15

3. Weigh what the bible says against that which others say – even your preacher. Never merely take someone’s word on a matter without first comparing it to God’s Word.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. – Acts 17:11

4. If the church you assemble with teaches error, (and refuses to be moved by the word of God even after admonishment), locate a faithful assembly to link yourself with. One that teaches the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches DECEIVE the hearts of the simple. – Romans 16:17-18

5. Stay true to God’s truth that has been revealed to you. No matter what is popular, no matter if those you love won’t follow suit, no matter if it gets hard some days. Be faithful unto death!

Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. – Joshua 24:14

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In conclusion:

Be watchful always. Once we have cleaned out our baskets, there is always the chance that “The One Who Invented Trick Or Treat” will try to sneak more and more of his “treats” back in.

-Only this time, we will know what to look for, won’t we?

I give you bitter pills in sugar coating. The pills are harmless; the poison is in the sugar – Jacek Galazka

For God’s Glory,
Mrs. Dustin Bolks

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Mrs. Dustin Bolks is a church of Christ preacher’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.