September 2nd, 2021: What’s Your Stew?
“The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 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 on an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some lentil stew. He ate, drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” ~ Genesis 25: 27-34
In the days of Esau and Jacob, the birthright was a esteemed honor for the firstborn son. Tradition was that the firstborn was to someday become the leader of the family, in addition to him inheriting a double portion of the family estate. Esau stood to reap enormous gains by virtue of owning the birthright, but his impulsive nature to satisfy his carnal desire at that very moment ultimately squandered God’s blessings for him later on.
It would be easy for us to look at Esau’s example and attempt to lay most of the blame on his brother Jacob’s jealousy and greed, and perhaps that did play a small role. But to do so would dismiss the greater lesson to be learned: the pursuit of instant gratification often comes at the expense of dishonoring God and losing out on his blessings for us.
Friend, we are all prone to caving in to our unhealthy appetites, and not just the kind that has us craving junk food over a well-balanced meal. Our appetites for wealth, materialism, status, power, influence, alcohol, drugs, sex; the list is endless. While the temptations sometimes seem overpowering, Esau’s story reminds us that with just one quick, irrational decision, we could potentially sacrifice God’s blessings for us in exchange for just one moment of temporary satisfaction.
Are we controlling our appetites, or do our appetites control us? What are you unwilling to give up for your salvation today? What is your stew?
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August 24th, 2021: The Source of Our Strength
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ~ 2 Corinthians, 12:9
Back in the mid to late 1800’s, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche penned the following quote that over a century later would become a popular, inspirational battlecry for those going through all sorts of trials and hardships:
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
I still hear that quote on occasion, but here’s the interesting thing I’ve found: when I hear someone say this, it is usually spoken as a means of encouragement to someone who is going through a major trial in their life, and nine times out of ten it is being expressed by someone whose life seems to be going their way at the moment! “Oh, don’t you worry, things will surely get better!”
However well-intended that form of encouragement might seem on the surface, it is nevertheless an unequivocally misguided and untrue platitude. It would have us believe that we are self-sustaining and self-sufficient medically, which we are not, and that is certainly not the case from a spiritual standpoint!
As Paul was writing his letter to the church in Corinth, he confided that he had been given “a thorn” in his flesh by “one of Satan’s messengers.” Although he didn’t go into any particulars, it is believed by many Biblical scholars that Paul had been afflicted with some sort of disease or medical problem that had hindered his ability to work. On three different occasions he prayed to the Lord to heal him, but God refused his request each time. Paul goes on to say in verse 9 of the 12th chapter of 2nd Corinthians, “But he (the Lord) said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
We don’t know why God refused to heal Paul from his afflictions, but here is what we do know: God rewarded him with a persevering character, and an abundance of humility that attracted others to him. His faithful service to Christ through sharing the gospel to all people, despite the circumstances regarding his health, became an inspiring example to everyone around him!
We are left with the only rational conclusion that God used Paul’s circumstances for His divine purposes, and because he was no less eager to carry out God’s will in his life, the Lord blessed him with even greater strength and grace.
In the following 10th verse, Paul goes on to say, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul clearly understood where his strength came from. Due to his physical problems, he was obligated to continue relying on God’s power, which naturally was far greater than his own. Paul not only accepted his circumstances but celebrated them, knowing that God’s strength was made perfect in his weaknesses.
Friend, when trouble finds us and brings us to our knees, do we question God and doubt that His plans are better than our own? Or do we look to Paul’s example and say, “God, I don’t know why this is happening, but I’m certain that you do. No matter what is going on in my life, I humbly ask you to grant me the strength to continue doing your will, so that it may magnify Christ and glorify you.”?
PS – ironically enough, Friedrich Nietzsche (the author of the quote referenced in the beginning) suffered from mental illness, and after experiencing a plethora of other health-related problems that led to a series of strokes, passed away at the relatively young age of 55.
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August 23, 2021: Motivated by Love
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ~ Galations 5: 13-14
When we enter into a genuine, loving relationship with Christ, our entire perspective of life begins to change. The fleshly desires that we once craved become replaced with things that are pleasing to God. As we grow in our faith and understanding of who Christ is, we begin to see significant changes in every aspect of our daily lives. Our thought processes, our choices and decisions, our attitudes and outlooks toward other people – all begin to change organically.
One day while Jesus was teaching in the temple, a Pharisee approached Jesus and asked him, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” But Jesus wasn’t quite finished with his answer. “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22: 37-40)
Friend, when we are motivated by the love that Christ has so richly and so profoundly and so undeservedly blessed us with, our attitudes toward others cannot help but change. We no longer see them through the critical lens of the sinful world in which we used to live, but through the corrective lens of Christ-centered living. We become less interested in pointing out their shortcomings and become more eager to notice their strengths. We stop talking about their hangups with others behind their backs and confront them with love, kindness, and humility. Instead of seeing them as worthless, we begin to see them as humans who are just as lost and confused as we once were ourselves. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors, to be kind to them, and to pray for them, so that they may see the goodness of Christ in us.
When we are motivated by the love of Jesus, everything changes; even the people around us.
Former Blackout Artist 