Genesis 25:29-34
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished." Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."
"Look, I am about to die." Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
Esau gives up the Ultimate for the Immediate
In this story, Esau gives up his birthright for a bowl of stew. If you don't understand the concept of the birthright you might not get how absurd this was. To be the first born and have the birthright meant that you would receive the larger share of the inheritance when your father died. In addition the son with the birthright would become the family patriarch, in charge of taking care of the family. The birthright was a big deal.
Esau gave that up for a bowl of stew? Really? Do you really believe that Esau was about to die? Do you think that Esau was in bad enough shape that he couldn't wait for a while...that he didn't have the energy to make a sandwich? If Esau wouldn't have sold his birthright would the it be said 'the God of Abraham, Isaac and Esau' instead of 'the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob'?
Esau gave up the Ultimate for the Immediate. He gave up what would have been a huge blessing for an immediate desire...to eat.
Where in your life are you giving up the Ultimate blessing for a short term Immediate desire?
If we are honest, don't we do this a lot? We live in a culture that tells us we don't need to wait. That we need to live for the moment and we should give in to our desires when we have them.
So we give in to our immediate desires and go into debt, give into our immediate desires not worrying about the consequences, go to our immediate desires for comfort and acceptance. We give up the ultimate blessing when we give into our immediate sexual desires and have premarital sex, turn to pornography or an affair.
When we feed our need for the immediate, what Ultimate blessing are we given up in the future? It's something we need to consider.
Lord, I pray that you would reveal to us those areas of our lives where we let the immediate get in the way of the ultimate. Reveal those areas that we give into, which cause distance in our relationship with You. Lord walk with us today and help us to keep the ultimate prize in focus and give us strength to ignore the temptation of the immediate desires that trip us up. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
We get Jesus...
Why are you into Jesus? Why do you love Jesus? Is it because of who He is? Is it because of what He has done for you on the cross?
John 6:26 - Jesus answered "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill"
To often we come to Jesus not for what He did for us or for who he is, but we come to Jesus for what He can do for us. We become consumers of Jesus. We go to Jesus to make our lives in this world better, instead of focusing on eternity.
John 6:27 - "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Are you coming to Jesus for food that spoils? Or are you coming to Jesus for food that will endure forever?
If Jesus came to you today and told you He would give you your hearts desire, but in exchange you had to give up part of Him, would you take it? Would you take what ever 'that' is and give up a part of your relationship with Jesus?
Now take a hard look at your life right now, look at where you are at in life, the things you have, the things you cherish...what are you putting ahead of your relationship with Jesus? If your being honest, for most of us, we are already putting something ahead of our relationship with Jesus, we are already giving up a part of Him.
Lord, today I pray that we would be content in the mere fact that we get YOU! That we would walk away from the things of this world solely based on what You have already done for us. That we would walk away from the sin in our lives as we focus on You, and find that your love is sufficient for us. Amen.
John 6:26 - Jesus answered "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill"
To often we come to Jesus not for what He did for us or for who he is, but we come to Jesus for what He can do for us. We become consumers of Jesus. We go to Jesus to make our lives in this world better, instead of focusing on eternity.
John 6:27 - "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Are you coming to Jesus for food that spoils? Or are you coming to Jesus for food that will endure forever?
If Jesus came to you today and told you He would give you your hearts desire, but in exchange you had to give up part of Him, would you take it? Would you take what ever 'that' is and give up a part of your relationship with Jesus?
Now take a hard look at your life right now, look at where you are at in life, the things you have, the things you cherish...what are you putting ahead of your relationship with Jesus? If your being honest, for most of us, we are already putting something ahead of our relationship with Jesus, we are already giving up a part of Him.
Lord, today I pray that we would be content in the mere fact that we get YOU! That we would walk away from the things of this world solely based on what You have already done for us. That we would walk away from the sin in our lives as we focus on You, and find that your love is sufficient for us. Amen.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Grace Without Christ
I found this devotion written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in my Men's Devotional Bible and thought I would share it:
Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye that causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows Him.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift of which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it gives man the only true life. Is is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above it all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "you were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 7:23), and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God.
Additional Scripture Reading: Mark 10:41-45; Romans 5:6-11
Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye that causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows Him.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift of which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it gives man the only true life. Is is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above it all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "you were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 7:23), and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God.
Additional Scripture Reading: Mark 10:41-45; Romans 5:6-11
Monday, April 4, 2011
What's coming out of your heart?
Luke 6:45 - The good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
What are you filling your heart with?
Are you filling it with Jesus?
In John 6:53 Jesus tells us "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."
When Jesus talks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, he is calling us, inviting us into a full embrace of Him. He is calling us to fully consume him into our hearts; his love, mercy, grace compassion, teachings and commands. He is calling us to not just a surface relationship with Him, but is calling on us to take Him in fully.
If we fill our hearts with Jesus, what flows from our mouths?
Encouragement, love, concern, grace and mercy.
If we fill our hearts with the things of this world...what flows from our mouths?
Lord, today I pray that we would guard our hearts from the things of this world by filling our hearts to overflowing with You. And that from that overflow that our mouth would speak of Your love, grace, mercy, truth and commands. That you would use us to make a difference in someones life today. Amen!
What are you filling your heart with?
Are you filling it with Jesus?
In John 6:53 Jesus tells us "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."
When Jesus talks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, he is calling us, inviting us into a full embrace of Him. He is calling us to fully consume him into our hearts; his love, mercy, grace compassion, teachings and commands. He is calling us to not just a surface relationship with Him, but is calling on us to take Him in fully.
If we fill our hearts with Jesus, what flows from our mouths?
Encouragement, love, concern, grace and mercy.
If we fill our hearts with the things of this world...what flows from our mouths?
Lord, today I pray that we would guard our hearts from the things of this world by filling our hearts to overflowing with You. And that from that overflow that our mouth would speak of Your love, grace, mercy, truth and commands. That you would use us to make a difference in someones life today. Amen!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Unity in Christ
I strongly feel that one of the most important aspects of our walk with Christ is the Gospel Community that He has placed us in. The church body is made up of many parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-26) and those parts work together in support of each individual towards the goal of sanctification. We have been placed together in our communities by God for a reason. As we walk together we learn from each other, we learn the importance of and application of love, grace, mercy, justice, patience, gentleness, humbleness and bearing with one another. Through our relationships God will use each of us to mold those around us.
Last weekend at our Warrior at Heart Ministry Leadership Camp, I experienced in a huge way how this all works. I witnessed 20 men come together and mold each other. We saw fears diminish and hearts change. We had difficult discussions and didn't always agree, but one thing we always agreed on was the importance of unity in Christ.
Psalm 133:1 - How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!
For gospel community to work, we must always make Christ our center, both individually and corporately. When we all make Christ our center, we become unified in him.
Ephesians 4:1-6 - As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Why?
Ephesians 4:12-13 - to prepare God's people for works of services, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
For what?
Ephesians 4:14-16 - Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The purpose of unity in Christ, is our growth, our sanctification. It's through our gospel community that we move from mere infants in Christ to maturity in Christ...from milk, to meat.
Last weekend at our Warrior at Heart Ministry Leadership Camp, I experienced in a huge way how this all works. I witnessed 20 men come together and mold each other. We saw fears diminish and hearts change. We had difficult discussions and didn't always agree, but one thing we always agreed on was the importance of unity in Christ.
Psalm 133:1 - How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!
For gospel community to work, we must always make Christ our center, both individually and corporately. When we all make Christ our center, we become unified in him.
Ephesians 4:1-6 - As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Why?
Ephesians 4:12-13 - to prepare God's people for works of services, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
For what?
Ephesians 4:14-16 - Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The purpose of unity in Christ, is our growth, our sanctification. It's through our gospel community that we move from mere infants in Christ to maturity in Christ...from milk, to meat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)