Being American, I am aware that for the most part, mine is a coffee-drinking country. In a 2021 report from urbanbeancoffee.com, statistics of coffee consumption in the United States of America were given.

• Sixty-four percent of American adults consume coffee every day, an average of 3.1 cups per day, for a total of 400 million cups per day and 146 billion cups per year.
• Seventy-nine percent of Americans prepare coffee at home.
• Thirty-five percent of coffee drinkers usually consume classic black coffee.

There are many different varieties of coffee beans, roasting techniques, coffee flavours, decaf versions, and methods of preparing coffee, including espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos — and let's not forget regular drip coffee. Coffee producers and sellers work very hard at enticing consumers into choosing their products over the rest.

My dad believed that black coffee was the real deal. I can't tell you how many times that he would affectionately make fun of me because I just couldn't down a cup of coffee without some sort of sweetener. He would snub his nose at anyone who drank flavoured coffee or decaf coffee, because in his mind, those weren't real coffee.

Matthew 7:15-16a – Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)

In today's verse, Jesus is telling us that there are fake prophets and those trying to sell themselves or their product as the real form of religion. Out there in the world, with all the different versions of what people claim to be the real God, we can be confused about what is right to believe.

But at the end of John 10:10, we see Jesus' perfect description of a Christian life: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (ESV) Jesus came to give His life so that our sins can be forgiven and we can have a full and eternal life. All we have to do is choose to accept Him and His way.

Jesus is the real deal. He came to obey and fulfill God's Word perfectly. No one else can make that claim. Let us trust Jesus implicitly and believe steadfastly in His truth and authority.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son so that we can accept Him as the real deal toward a life with You in charge. Keep us always on the right path and away from the fakes. We love You! Protect us from harm, and keep us from harming others. Help us to be the people that we need to be as we exhibit Your qualities, and do our best to be authentic. Amen.