Friday, December 2, 2016

Do you suffer affliction?

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

Pleasures of sin.

Moses had it all as an Egyptian. Any lust he had he could easily indulge. The life many envied, he possessed. Much like our longing to be rich- as great business tycoons, as Hollywood stars, as famous sport athletes, as those who manage to earn exorbitant wealth. Moses had that life, he was the famous star, athlete, professional. People wanted to have his life.

Moses made a choice to give it all up.

Can we even begin to imagine a famous star, a famous singer, any one famous - giving up all their wealth, all their fame?  We'd call them crazy, wouldn't we?

Now, let's take it down to our level- the level of the not famous, the not wealthy, do we have 'pleasures of sin' to forsake?

By FAITH do we choose to give up our sinful pleasures?

Or do we make excuses for keeping them?

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 
1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

Are you in HEAVINESS through MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS?  If not, you better ask yourself why you aren't.

Our faith will be tried.

We are engaged in a BATTLE.

If you aren't in a battle then again, you better ask yourself why you aren't.

We've spent a long time twisting sin so that we call it good, and we call good- evil.  If we are caught up in the snare of Satan and are among those who desire to call sin good, and good sin, then we better pray hard for release from that snare.

More tomorrow- by the grace of our LORD!

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