A whole sermon could be taught on the passage in Hebrew 11:24-26 where the author says, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

When have I ever heard a message on what is being said about Moses in this passage and yet it is a huge step that he has taken here and a rich lesson to us all.  We all know so well the story of Moses as an infant being laid in a basket and floated down a river, only to be rescued and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in the king’s household.  Most of us today would view this situation as a rare act of God in his life.  All Moses’ financial needs would have been met from that point on.  He would have received a top notch education – and who knows, he may have even have wound up being king of Egypt one day!  Many would have called him a fool to throw this gift away – but Moses did just that.  In Moses’ view, all that he stood in line to receive from this inheritance would amount to things.  Instead Moses opted for something much richer.  He would follow the dictates of his heart and honor God over putting things as dictator of his life.

Today especially in the Christmas season, we are inundated with messages of a plethora of things we need in order to be happy.  If we honor those messages, we actually move into more shallow living.  Things don’t satisfy, they are placebos at best.  Only honoring God and doing as His Spirit dictates will ever satisfy.  God’s will and plans for our lives are meaningful and give us reason for living.  They are far superior to being a stuff magnet or being relegated to functioning as a manager for our stuff when our lives were meant to change the world through Christ’s Spirit in us.

Lord, today I want to step down from being a stuff magnet or stuff manager and move into the business of ministry I have been created for which is to partner with Your Spirit to change the world.  You have promised to meet my every need as I engage fully in Your work that is deep and fully satisfies as nothing else can.  Be glorified in my life I pray.

Love, grace and peace,

Merelyn.