Just a Thought

I keep ruminating on Pastor Joel's sermon this week. It was on Hebrews chapter 12:12-17.

"...Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears."

Esau was a man who lived a very earthly life. He lived by his senses especially for hunting and eating. He took his position of firstborn lightly and even sold his very precious birthright for a single meal and afterwards sought the blessing with tears. He regretted what he did but didn't repent from it. How heartbreaking! A couple of phrases that Joel spoke keep resonating in my head. One is "Don't trade what is lasting for what is momentary." and the other is "There are certain choices which cannot be unmade and certain consequences which not even God will take away." How painfully apropos this is to my life! Sometimes I feel like I have lived for the momentary pleasure of a cookie or some other instant gratification. Then I seek God with tears and want Him to take away the consequences(ie. obesity and diabetes)! The obvious message here is: Spend my time seeking God and the things of God instead of giving in to the instant gratifications of the world (ie. whatever food or distraction is before me). I'm feeling raw.

Thank you Lord for your discipline and humbling in my life. Thank you for likening my Christian walk to a race. It isn't easy and sometimes the hills seem too high or I hit the "wall" and it takes more than I have within me to keep going, but I know that the prize is at the end. One day I'll stand at the finish line and see my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The hope of that day is like a cool drink of water and a energy bar. Thank you for your grace. You have wiped out my mistakes and have given me a fresh new day to tie on the running shoes and get cracking! There is no other like You!