The last couple of days my thoughts have centered on 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." (NIV)
When I first read this passage, I wondered; How could someone be so shallow as to sell their birthright, their future blessing, their destiny and imminent favor for a bowl of soup?
Until I realized times of my life where I had been just like Esau. Gave up on God's future blessing for immediate relief, pleasure, or gratification.
How often I had been allured away from God's best for money, love, self-significance...or how I caved to the pressures of my immediate circumstances and sought an "easy-out".
Esau had an insatiable hunger for an immediate gratification...He wanted his immediate needs to be met...and in his impatience...he gave up his future.
Friend, no matter what our immediate needs are, I pray we will never give up or lose sight of our future birthright. May we never forget Who God has called us to be. May we never possess such an insatiable hunger to experience relief that we give up on the dreams and future promise God gave us. May we never exchange our eternal hopes and promises for temporal relief.
I want to encourage you. If you are facing overwhelming circumstances, don't give up. Ephesians 6:13-14 says, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then..." (NIV)
God will fulfill HIS PROMISES. HE WILL NOT ABANDON YOU. So...remember to Dream Big, Laugh Often, Knowing God's Got It All Under Control.
SO NICE TO SEE THAT U GOT RID OF MY COMMENT WHAT A TRUE CHRISTIAN U ARE..... INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE TORMENTED PERSON WHO LEFT THE PREVIOUS MESSAGE U SIMPLY ACT LIKE THEY DONT EXSIT. ISNT THAT CONTRADICTING JESUS... ARENT U SUP TO HELP THOSE IN NEED BUT BECAUSE U ONLY WANT TO LOVE A CHRISTIAN AND CANT DEAL WITH SOMEBODY IN DESPAIR AND IN PAIN.. U JUST ERASE THEIR CRY FOR HELP AND DONT ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT THEY SAY AND DONT EVEN OFFER A PRAYER FOR THEM... DO U REALLY THINK U WILL SEE JESUS... ARENT U SUP TO B CAREFUL LEST U ARE ENTERTAINING ANGELS UNAWARE....THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW IS TO LOVE GOD AND UR NEIGHBOR AS URSELF... SO IM GUESSING WHEN U R IN TOTAL DESPAIR U WANT SOMEONE TO JUST ERASE UR PAIN.... UR A HYPOCRITE AND U DONT EVEN KNOW JESUS TO KNOW HIM MEANS TO BE INTIMATE WITH HIM AND IF U WERE U WOULD KNOW THAT DESPITE THE FACT U WERE OFFENDED BY WHAT I SAID U WERE SUP 2 GIVE A CUP OF WATER IN JESUS NAME.. OR WHAT DID U THINK TO CLOTHE THE NAKED MEANT.. DID U REALLY THINK IT MEANS TO GIVE SOMEONE A SHIRT U DUMB ASS.. IT MEANS TO BE THERE WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL... U HAVE MISERABLEY FAILD THE LORD BY ERASING MY CRY FOR HELP.. U R A PIG AND U DONT LOVE JESUS.. HOW CAN U CLAIM TO LOVE HIM THAT U HAVENT SEEN IF U CANT LOVE THOSE THAT U CAN SEE..... U SAW MY PAIN AND U IGNORED IT..... MARTIN LUTHER KING HAS BEEN MAD AT GOD TOO WHO HASNT...... UR A PIG,,,,,,,,,,,,
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI am truly sorry for your loss. I was not and am NOT offended. I removed your comments because I have young readers who frequently read my posts (and though I could see past your words)I felt responsible to protect younger readers from reading it. I hope you understand. Since reading your first post, I have prayed for you frequently. I can only imagine the pain and frustration you're feeling. I would have responded sooner but there were a couple of factors. First and foremost I was traveling for the past few days and had VERY limited reception. The area I was in had dial up and I had very little time in between my meetings. Second, you left your comment anonymously--thus I couldn't respond to you directly. I had no idea you would check back...so instead I prayed. My heart hurts for your pain...and though I can't fix it, one thing I know...
In my greatest moments of pain...in the seasons that seemed the most dark...God carried me through. At times, I questioned why. At times I felt forsaken. But God healed and helped me and revealed an even greater intimacy in my pain. I am believing He will do the same for you.
It sounds as if you have been battling for a long time. I am praying other believers come along side you and help you through this VERY difficult time.
It also seems as if you know the word of God really well. I am praying that you will be able to stand on those promises and know...that God truly does love you and though you feel forsaken...God is near. I am praying Romans 8: 35-39 becomes real to you in the way you need to experience Him today.