January 11
Gen 24:52-26:16 | PS 10:1-15 | Prov 3:7-8 | Matt 8:18-34
We come across the strange interaction between Jacob and Esau and Esau willingly giving away his birthright for a bowl of stew to his brother, Jacob, in Genesis 25:29-34. We must understand what Esau gave away. The birthright honored the firstborn son and upon the father's death would grant him the father's authority and responsibilities. In addition, this birthright would confer twice the inheritance than any other sons. Esau in haste and foolishness gave up so much for this simple bowl of stew. To make this more contemporary and applicable, realize Jesus as God's only begotten Son received the kingdom from His Father. As Christians, once we have repented and accepted Jesus' sacrifice, making Him Lord of our lives we have inherited our share in His kingdom as our inheritance as our birthright. So, as foolish as Esau might at first seem, how many individuals do you know: family, friends, co-workers, etc. give up their birthright status for lesser things. Relationships, jobs, economic opportunities, pursuits of pleasure all take precedence, and for the sake of temporary pleasures all of these individuals forsake their potential birthright of heaven for lesser things.
With this in mind, we come to an interesting set of exchanges with Jesus in Matthew 8:19-22, "Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead." Understand Jesus was warning that following Him had its costs and one must count those costs. As Jesus warned, the apostle Paul, was always on the move, and often never had that place that he could call home and rest his head. The second disciple may at first seem to be requesting to attend a funeral, but in reality, it infers waiting until his father actually died so that he could receive his portion of the inheritance and thus some measure of financial security. Jesus was showing others that we are to be holy, set apart, for Him. This is our calling.
When Jesus is asked the most important commandment, He responds in Matthew 22:37-39, "Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Do we? Is our greatest desire to know and follow Jesus Christ? Is knowing God our utmost desire? Do we allow ourselves to be consumed with the things of God or the things of this world? It's not that the things of this world are necessarily bad, but they are not best. Each of us can obtain the birthright that Jesus offers us. But this birthright is not something we add on. Like those who are polytheistic they don't mind adding Jesus into their pantheon of gods. We don't simply get to add Jesus onto our other priorities and desires. Jesus' claim of offering eternity in heaven is exclusive (John 14:6). We are either all in, belong to Him, or we are not. Is there anything worth not making Him Lord of your life? Please, don't procrastinate, recognize who He is, repent of all your sins, and enter the family. It doesn't matter what you have done or what you are doing, His arms are open and ready to receive you right now.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: