Genesis 25 verse 29-34 talks about how Esau sold his birthright for a plate of pottage. It's a story I believe we are all very familiar with and maybe most of us would have said "What on earth was Esau thinking? a plate of pottage for his birthright!". Well, I believe we have to ask ourselves the same question today.
Ephesians chapter 2 talks about the right we have and the privilege we enjoy through our new birth in Christ Jesus. Verse 6 says that God hath raised us up together and made us sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. What a privilege that is!
Do you know that every time we settle for less by giving-in to the lusts of our flesh, we have sold our "birthright' for a plate of pottage. Anytime we give-in to worldly temptation, fornication, adultery, idolatry, envy,.... whatever it is that we have settled for, that is not of God, then we have settled for a plate of pottage.
Esau thought he would die of hunger, desperation was the motivating force. "Oh, I need food right now he thought, and yes, at any cost because nothing else matters at the moment!". You see, he was wrong. In the same way, we will be wrong anytime we settle for worldly short-cuts out of desperation.
Let us learn to stand our grounds no matter what, knowing that what we carry on the inside of us is greater than anything the world can offer us out there. Say to the devil the next time he comes with a tempting offer...devil, eat your pottage!
Most people (including me) are stucked in our ways which we regard as "normal". We need to understand who we are in Christ, believe we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and knock the devil back each time he comes prowling.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, if we truly understand who we are in Christ then, it will be a lot easier to stand our grounds in times of temptation, of course with the grace of God. It's a lost battle for the devil.
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