Psalms 23:6 MKJV  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah forever.

What a comfort it is to consider the leading of the most High, that He is continually providing for all our necessities with regard to food, protection, peace, and rest. Before He can be any of these things, however, He must first be what He is declared to be in the very first verse- a Shepherd that is embraced, possessed, looked up to and eternally possessed in submission. All the subsequent scenes of sweet communion will have no place in reality until the One that is leading there is seen as way more than just a companion, but as the only hope for life at all. A single step cannot be made towards His provision and place of quiet bliss until He is considered to be the great God of not only wonderful blessed provision, but also the One with the rod and the staff, the One who is completely and uncompromisingly Holy. No claim on the provision has any validity until there has been total surrender and submission to the One from whom all blessings flow. The goodness and mercy that is anticipated is more than just a wish in the heart of the One who understands the faithfulness of the great God of judgment. An awareness of His faithfulness in correction and consequence brings incredible confidence to the one who merely yields to His will in every aspect of life. Rather than being concerned in the least about any area of need, there is an abundant assurance that all is well with the One who is equally faithful to provide for all who comply to His will.

To dwell in the house of provision has everything to do with giving honor to the one who has secured the dwelling, stocked it with essentials, and protected it from threats. There is no passion for hanging out in the abode of one whose rules and standards are dishonored and ignored. When there is no respect for the power and integrity of the owner there will be an expectation of something quite opposite to goodness and mercy- rebellion and destructive judgment. The stories of David’s own sons are clear examples of this. Though Absalom and Solomon had the same relationship to David, there was great contrast in their perception of their father, and ultimately great contrast in what would follow their actions. Absalom, in failing to see the divinely given power and might of his father, chose instead to undermine and rebel. Though gifted as a leader, his dishonor and disrespect for his father prohibited his residence in a palace that was his every right to occupy. His failure to possess his inheritance in submission to his father brought an inevitable consequence of total loss and death.

His brother, though, maybe impacted by the example played out before him, held onto a passionate possession of not only his father’s relationship, but his position of authority and power in his life. Beyond the obvious human failures, he saw in his father a man who had been faithful to the God who had blessed him with protection and provision. Rather than resisting and rebelling for his own ambitions, he found in humility and submission a great opportunity for extended residence in the house of his honored father. In seeking wisdom over material blessings, he demonstrated complete and total deference to the One that would make all that other stuff just follow behind him as a wake.

For this day, there is a path that is lit and leading to restful provision. Its destination, though, is the dwelling place of the Almighty, Holy, and uncompromising Shepherd whose provision of goodness and mercy requires humble and fearful submission to the superiority of His will. To dwell is to first possess total honor for the Shepherd.

Judges 16:15-17 KJV  And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.  (16)  And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;  (17)  That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

There may be a period of time when it seems like- no harm done, just enjoying life a little. However, there is a much greater agenda than just hanging out on the part of the adversary. He’s out for the heart and won’t give up nagging and persuading until the enticements and luring end up with the source of strength cut off and the heart taken captive by hands intent on destroying it. For every moment intentionally given to enjoying the company of the adversary there is an ever widening opening made in the heart through which the opposition can move in to displace the God who is very selfish about His abode.

For Samson it must have seemed that there was a considerable reserve of spiritual capital available for spending on life independence and flesh indulgence. After all, he had been brought up in the strictest of environments, protected completely from the slightest touch of anything unclean. Because of this dedication to God, his gift of physical invincibility had developed to the point that he was most confident in his ability to defeat any attempt of his foe- so much so that he could continue to spend whole nights in the very dwelling of those who wanted no more than to destroy him. Totally against what he knew to be right and in complete rebellion against the wishes of his parents, he kept returning to spend time using up his reserves in the den of his adversary. He couldn’t seem to resist the sweetness of sin’s offerings and apparently the subsequent demonstration of his strength and insurmountable ability to maintain his freedom. Possibly because of the anointing that was always there even after much time spent with an open heart to the enemy, Samson became increasingly vulnerable to the removal of that anointing and the inevitable subsequent bondage.

In the life of Samson, resistance to constraints of moral discipline (no one was going to tell him how to live his life), independence from the fellowship of the righteous, and willingness to use up his spiritual capital by spending time being gratified by the enemy’s enticements all obviously lead to his tragic end. While this may be an extreme case and a bit difficult to relate to, there is yet a direct correlation in it for all who have received the gift of life in Christ. The strength in this life is totally dependent upon obedience to a way of life that is much different than that of the world. It is possible to reach a point of self-confidence through compliance in one known area that breeds a sense of independence from the need for compliance in other areas. Time is willingly given to just hanging out in the realm of the adversary to taste of the thrills that can only be found there in his camp. In ways that may seem to be harmless and insignificant, however, an ever widening opening is developed in the heart through which destructive forces can come to cut off even that last area of obedience and render the once faithful anointing powerless.

It’s not so much that God wants to disallow pleasure. In fact, at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. But, for every moment given to pleasure in the realm of the enemy, there is a reception of heart threats that will eventually lead to its grief, its brokenness and eventually its destruction. There is no amount of spiritual ascendency or independence that will defend against an enemy to which a heart is continually opened. Spiritual capital will not last against the persistence of the heart destroyers.

There is fullness of joy for today that has no threat, but rather the promise of strength and stability. This joy, though, is only accessible in the presence of the Lord, and this presence is compromised when the entertainment, conversations, and indulgences of the enemy are sought out for gratification. Capital need not be spent but rather built up by a continual awareness of and fulfillment in the presence of the Lord. His goodness will never fail, disappoint, or bring any harm in the least.

1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. 3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

Col 3:1-4 (ASV)

I met a man yesterday in a neighborhood close to a very large church we’ve enjoyed attending from time to time. I was impressed by the man’s personality as he warmly welcomed me to his home and treated me with what appeared to be sincere appreciation and consideration. While I did some work for him, I was wondering if he might attend the nearby church as he seemed to display a joy and appreciation for life that would well represent a child of God. When I did later ask him about this, though, he immediately revealed to me that he had some major challenges to his ‘faith’. As a child he had been a part of a religious organization who’s leader had, by abusing some of the other children, completely disrupted his ability to believe in anything that man had represented. He asked very passionately, “How could this be allowed to happen?”

Though there has been an experience with God, a transformation made, and maybe even a position of ‘leadership’ attained, there still remains this variable of ‘how’ as my new friend expressed it, and ‘if’ as Paul presented in the second and third chapters of Colossians. How can someone be anything other than holy and without blame if there is indeed a God and they would represent Him, and if one has been risen with Christ, then shouldn’t there be corresponding actions? To be born again, it would seem, is not just a single choice that forever changes all subsequent actions and behaviors, but it is rather the first of a lifetime of choices that will either reflect the face and image of Christ or some other identity that is far below the place where He’s seated at the right hand of God.

Where something is ‘sought’ there is a demonstration of passion and desire, and from what Paul has indicated this is something that can be set. There is an opportunity given to each of us to either allow our hearts to be taken by things that are above in Christ or things that are below and by this ‘setting’ there is an ability and capacity gained to actually act the part rather than just errantly bear the name. The initial belief in Christ that is followed by a confession of Him as Lord is a wonderful experience of rebirth, but to actually ‘be’ in Christ is an ongoing choice that will be directly demonstrated in Godly actions. Anything that’s already been attained spiritually or mentally will be rendered meaningless in every subsequent moment where another lower thing is sought, resulting in an action that raises the questions of ‘how?’ and ‘if?’. The reality of what it means to be in Christ will never be altered by those who would claim to be there and act differently, and yet the testimony and ability to walk in its power, authority and freedom will only be well represented in the lifestyle of the one who has set their mind and affections on higher things and allowed their behavior to be transformed by this fixation.

Every moment in worship has its reward in life and every setting of passions and desires will be directly reflected in a life that demonstrates what it really means to be in Christ- doesn’t really matter who you are or what you’ve already done- it’s a choice of the moment.

25 For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Col 3:25 (ASV)

Matthew 9:10-12 KJV
(10)  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
(11)  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
(12)  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

It’s so wonderful how Jesus’ holiness and perfection didn’t keep Him from those He came to save. While He was part of the temple elite who normally separated themselves from the riff raff, the ‘ungodly’ and the ‘unacceptable’, there was something about Jesus that drew those to Him who may have never or rarely set foot in a place of worship. Instead of repelling them with a judgmental air, there must have been an incredible acceptance and understanding felt from Him by those who were used to rejection and condemnation.

Associations are so important, and you’ll be known by those with whom you choose to associate. This is such an essential understanding, especially for children today. If there is a choice to hang out with those who despise school, watch bad movies, and use profane language, that will be how they are known, and that will also eventually be who they are. This was surely a part of the difficulty the religious critics were having with Jesus. If He was such a great leader, how could He allow His identity to be tainted by those from the other side of the tracks? How could He compromise His holiness and religious perfection by the uncleanness of worldly associations?

While it was unavoidable for Jesus to be noticed for His hanging out with the publicans and sinners, there was, however, another association taking place. For each one of those condemned sinners who were bound in a self image of failure and bondage to sin, their lives were given a whole new perspective after having sat down to eat with the Master. Association in reverse was lifting them from a lifelong label of evil to one of righteousness and acceptance. After all, the Master, Jesus Himself had allowed them to sit right down next to Him and talk to Him as if they were someone of significance. He, in the power of His own identity was allowing them to be associated with His goodness rather than being lowered to their badness.

In the world that will surround us today there is a need among those who may have avoided places of worship. They are in great need of a new association with the Great Physician. Rather than rejection and a cold shoulder, they require a place at the table and a loving voice of acceptance. Rather than imposing their badness through this interaction, there is a desire for an association change of theirs for His. This will require a great assurance of who we are and the true purpose of Jesus in us. There will be brushes with the ‘unclean’, but each and every one of them are looking for an opportunity to be associated with who we are in Christ. If they are truly condemned and living as sinners, their only real hope is an association change and that will only come by hanging out with who you are as an uncompromising but incredibly accepting and loving member of the body of Christ.

Worship is more than a song and a temple identity. It is fulfilling the Father’s heart purpose in touching those who may have been formerly untouchable with the loving balm that will heal and transform their lives.

James 1:17 KJV
(17)  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

This past Christmas season it seemed like there was an increase of opposition to the celebration of Christ as the reason for the holiday. There were anti-God displays positioned next to Christmas displays in an effort to come directly against any belief in or need for Jesus. There was one particular effort on their part, however, that, from my perspective, did much more to affirm the need for God than dissemble it. I believe it was a statement on a tee-shirt or small poster that read, “Be good for goodness sake”, with the implication that goodness was reason alone– no need for God. For the one who has a true understanding of the origin of any goodness, though, this is but an affirmation of faith and a further motivation for the commitment of one’s life to the only One who is truly good. For all the efforts of the independent that see themselves as existing apart from the necessity of God in their life, there can really be no ‘goodness’ without the inclusion of God and the embrace of His most perfect gift of ‘goodness’ in His Son, Jesus.

As we are drawn to a place of nearness to our good, good Father, there is an ever-increasing desire to do just that, though– be good. Where there may be a tendency to be otherwise, the holiness and righteousness of God, along with the severity for choosing otherwise will align steps along the path that is right. Romans 2:4 states that it is actually the goodness of God that brings us to a place where goodness in our own life is even possible. Until this is our story, that repentance, motivated by His goodness, has displaced the badness in our way of life, there can be no enjoyment of goodness. There is no ’being good’ until the One from whom the ’goodness’ comes is embraced in an atmosphere of holy repentance. This is our place today, though, and this is our opportunity– for the gift of His goodness to take hold in our hearts and lives and for there to be evidence in the way we live. We can really be ‘good for goodness sake’ with a heart of worship that knows the Good One.

Psa 7:8 KJV
(8)  The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

Psa 35:24 KJV
(24)    Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

A couple things are taking place when a bold approach is made to a seat of judgment- confidence is strong in one’s own position, but there is also a certainty, developed through experience, that the one sitting in the seat of judgment will make the right decision. While there may be elements of fallacy, a relationship has been established where honest pursuit of what is right will be met with mercy and a heart of forgiveness.

I was somewhat on edge about something my son had chosen to do yesterday. From my perspective it wasn’t the best of decisions and there was a part of me that wanted to really point out this problem and correct it. While there still may be some things we’ll be working on, I was taken aback somewhat by the approach of my son to me at this critical time when he had a pretty good idea how I felt. Instead of avoiding me and hoping to somehow avert any confrontation, he came right up to me and began to speak to me about something that was motivating him, even though I could tell he was a bit sheepish about his other situation. While I’ll admit he’s probably very good at wrapping me around his little finger, I believe there were these other elements involved in his approach to me. I believe that, though he may be wrong in his choice, there is something very honest and pure in his motive, that in his heart he still believes his course of action was necessary and justifiable. And, while he knows how I feel about it, he also has this confidence in our relationship, that whatever the circumstance of the moment, we have something that will greatly influence my perception; that I will see his heart and be moved by the love in mine to make a decision that will be right for both of us. His rightness and mine together would bring the judgment resulting in the best outcome. Also, when I did approach the subject of his error, he was then receptive to what I had to say and sensitive to my heart, although I could tell it was something about which he still felt very strongly.

I believe there is a way to the corrected action and resolved behavior, that righteous judgment will result in the necessary actions to rectify any conflict. What I love about the reference to judgment in this Psalm, though, is that there is a relationship with the God of judgment that completely adjusts the position of both the Judge and the child approaching Him with a request for judgment. Though perfection may still be some distance from the child, there is an understanding, established in relationship, that the Father is going to understand the heart and provide the best course of action to bring rightness and conciliation to an otherwise condemning situation. Love is going bond rather than separate. Rather than avoid Him and hope for an overlooked error, a direct approach can be made to the Father of love with great confidence that He will be faithful and just to forgive and judge righteousness based upon who we are in Christ. Instead of a concealed and unresolved fault, there can be a bold approach to a throne of grace where help can be found and righteousness implemented. Judgment can actually be an anticipated action when approached with confidence in a relationship that is sure to bring justice and righteousness where separation and punishment might otherwise be expected.

There is an opportunity for a direct and confident approach to a Father who knows our frame, understands our heart and sees our completed potential in Christ. It will be right there in His presence where His judgment will bring righteous resolution to all that concerns us. May our approach be bold and continual.

Heb 4:14-16 KJV
(14)  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
(15)  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
(16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Romans 2:3-4 MKJV

(3)  And, O man, the one judging those who do such things, and practice them, do you think this, that you shall escape the judgment of God?

(4)  Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Once there were three sons of a king, one of which was several years older than the other two who were twins. The first born upon completing his basic education determined that he would separate himself from the restricting life of a prince and instead live in freedom and independence. He took a large portion of his inheritance and went to a foreign land where he could not be recognized or followed. Completely disregarding and despising his heritage he lived as a degenerate, wasting his money on meaningless consumption until there was none left and he was among those asking for money on the corners and sleeping under the stars. After some time in this state of deprivation, his father by chance became aware of his whereabouts and presented this information to his remaining sons who had by this time completed graduate studies and were faithfully serving in his kingdom. He told them that he needed help with preparation of an appropriate reception for their wayward brother. Each was told to outline exactly how their brother’s treatment should be and present this plan on short notice.

Before receiving his sons’ directives for their brother, though, the king went ahead and gave specific instructions to his chief assistant that documents received from each of the twins should be carried out to the smallest detail. Instead of being executed on behalf of their older brother, though, each plan would be directed towards the one who wrote it. While the wayward son had obviously violated his wishes and despised his provision and riches, the king knew that his remaining sons, while not as overtly, had erred themselves in many ways for which they had already received his mercy and forgiveness. Prestige, honor and authority would be theirs as royalty, but the greatest lesson for them to learn would be mercy, that the measure to which they could apply mercy and forgiveness would be the measure to which they would receive it in their own times of failure. Though they had remained within their father’s favor, never having turned their back on him, to negatively judge their brother at this time would be the same as despising the forgiveness and mercy that had been extended towards them in their own shortcomings. Whether a welcome party or a rejection with punishment, whatever their plans for their brother would prove to be their own experience.

There is not one of us that by our own virtue and moral perfection are deserving of anything less than complete destruction. However, it is so wonderful to experience the incredible presence of the Lord and to know His favor and provision in countless areas of our lives. This close proximity to Him, though, is due alone to the mercy and grace of his goodness. If we’ve turned our back on any sinful activity it has only been that His incredible long-suffering has made this possible. He has been faithful to see us in Christ, though our behavior might have often stated otherwise. Now, to administer judgment on anyone that is in need of the same mercy we’ve received would be the same as despising the great treasure that’s been gifted to us at the cross. An embrace of our Father’s free gift of righteousness in Christ will have its greatest evidence in the display of mercy and forgiveness given rather than just received. The more this gift is treasured the more it will be extended towards so many others in need of it themselves. For that brother that may have turned his back on his inheritance in Christ there will ever be a place of reception, honor, love and mercy in the heart and life of the one who has truly valued their own undeserved place by the Father.

Mark 5:17 MKJV
(17)  And they began to beg Him to leave their borders.

     As soon as it is understood that it has and will cost something, there is usually much less acceptance of the source of healing and deliverance – when the miracle is for someone else anyway. Though it was surely amazing to see the man once possessed by demons completely delivered, when confronted with the bill for this demonstration of Jesus’ power, it was unacceptable for this to take place any more. Jesus had to go. If they had only known that the very man they were expelling would soon lay down his own life (so much more valuable than the mere herd of pigs) for their own deliverance, their assessment of the event would surely have been reversed. As they look back on it now they must have a great deal of shame for the treatment and value they gave their own Deliverer. If only they could have seen the true value of the victory and freedom over what it cost them in a few smelly pigs, they could have shared in the victory with an embrace for the Conqueror rather than a rejection boot.

     It is not possible to hold on to those grunting valuables in our lives and experience the One who has come to give us something of such greater value. As the Spirit of God comes into our realm with liberating deliverance, some of those treasures may go running off into the ocean. It may appear that our very livelihood or way of living is being compromised, but with the disappearance of every swirly tail into the surf, there is an opportunity to more fully appreciate the magnitude of the treasure offered to us by the One still standing on the shore. Instead of quietly refusing His access to those certain areas that we thought were ours alone, we can embrace His replacement and welcome Him onto every other shore of our heart to displace anything else that would take oppression with it.

Romans 12:21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

It was only natural. If you reasonably consider the situation you would have to agree that it was a totally justified response. I was, after all, minding my own business with no evil intent whatsoever, and it wasn’t until I was so rudely interrupted from my significantly important Broncos playoff game focus that I came unglued. Also, I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that my guys were managing to let defeat overtake them in the fourth quarter after leading most of the game. It was just wrong that I should have to leave my established position on the couch with my chips and coke to jump up right now and finish unloading the car- something that could obviously be done by all the other creatures in the house that weren’t nearly as occupied as I was. There was just no way I was moving till the game was over, and I made sure that this inconsiderate, demeaning, and disrespecting request would never be made again- or so was the intention of my response. I discovered, however, that the atmosphere I thought was filled with evil tension by the simple request for help was magnified in its intensity by the wrongness of my response. Not only did I fail to overcome, but I ended up being so overcome by the ensuing conflict that I totally missed out on my team’s last second conquest.

Okay, let’s try this another way- same situation, but with a simple change. Somehow, miraculously, from the overflow of love that filled my heart, before the car’s engine was even turned off, during a commercial break, I burst out the door with a welcoming smile on my face. I had everything brought into the house, gave a kiss to my wife and was back on the couch without missing a single moment of the game’s dramatic ending. Not only was I not overcome by what was perceived as evil in the first scenario, but any opportunity for that conflict to arise was eliminated by the choice for good. I got to enjoy both the game and the affection of my wife without a single challenge to my heart’s condition due to strife.

There is this natural human response driven by a notion that once something has been done to us, to offend us or cause us the least discomfort we have the right and ability to correct that wrong with a rebuke or wrongful act of our own. As soon as an evil has come our way, we have the right, no the obligation, to combat that dastardly thing with a little dish of our own. If we’re ever made to feel disrespected our looked down upon, there is sufficient validation for the warfare of words. That person is going to pay highly for their evil ways, whether they know it or not, and we’ll have taught them a thing or two.

In reality, there is an evil that is continually attempting to overcome us, but evil words spoken against us and evil deeds done will never have the power in themselves to overthrow us. Like the dark side of the force depicted in the Star Wars movies, the defeat that is most important to our enemy is the defeat that comes to us when we submit to his ways and his evil response. The only scheme or weapon he has that will effectively achieve his dominion over us is the deception that in order to win we must join forces with him. To grow in the ability to respond in love and mercy in every situation, then, is to overcome in every situation and be more than an conqueror through Him that loved us. (Romans 8:37)

Though reflexes, emotions, pride, and ego would cry out for vengeance and reciprocating actions, the action and the response that comes from the Father of light is a good action, one that will not only cause us to triumph with it, but actually bring salvation and wholeness to the situation. Today is a day growing in the ‘good’ response. Judgment, peace, and pure enjoyment in living is certain when the Father’s response becomes our response. May goodness and turning of the cheek bring overcoming power to every aspect of life today for the glory of the One from whom all blessings flow.

Matthew 5:39-48  Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’
I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer,  for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best–the sun to warm and the rain to nourish–to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. (The Message)

Genesis 25:34  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

It just really seems unfair. You wouldn’t think something as important as Esau’s legal right to the blessing and inheritance of his father could so easily be bartered away. How legitimate could this really be – the spouting off of a famished hunter, blinded to the gravity of his decision by the magnitude of his hunger? His father favored Esau, after all, and he couldn’t possibly see this as any more than brotherly jesting. It was just a figure of speech you know- ‘I’d give my birthright for just a bowl of oatmeal’. It couldn’t possibly hold up in a court of law. All these arguments would seem to be somewhat valid, and yet for them to even be considered is to greatly devalue the greatest asset/treasure/virtue that was Esau’s privileged possession. Something as precious as this should have been kept far away from any possibility of compromise or loss. If it were really seen as the incredible heart treasure that it should have been, there would have been nothing that could have persuaded him to let go of it.

So, how did it come to this, that the first born could come in after a long day’s hunt, quickly trade his birthright for a bowl of porridge, eat, and get up to walk away without even a contention over the details of the transaction? (I’ve often wondered if this were the only food available, because Esau’s foggy reasoning makes it seem to him that unless he had just the food Jacob had prepared, he would surely die and the birthright would be no good to him anyway. You would have thought that other food was surely nearby, though, as Jacob was probably cooking this at their home where there should have been a sufficient supply. Esau should have been able to just go to the store house and get something, but he wanted this prepared meal and he wanted it now.) Maybe after having grown up with the concept of a birthright, but never really getting to experience its benefits yet, it had come to be more of a fantasy than a reality? Maybe his passion for hunting and for the life of the field had lessoned his appreciation for things of the camp and all those ‘city folk’ ways, along with what would be defined as his birthright. And most certainly he, like the rest of us so often are, was caught up in the expediency of the moment and the importance and value of ‘now’ over any extended worth. The greatest tool in closing the deal was the belief that it had to be done right there at that moment. Life itself was hanging in the balance. For whatever reason or for many of them, Esau had come to this place that he would reveal his true valueless feelings regarding the right to great privileges and wealth that was his from birth. His actions would declare that in reality, compared to other passions in life, he despised it.

The life we’ve been born into in Christ has come with a birthright that touches every part of living. We’ve been given direct access to the supply room and there is no good thing that is withheld from those who walk according to the requirements of this birthright. There are, however, opportunities that come our way throughout each and every day to trade the incredible wealth of our birthright for what might seem to be a requirement for the moment. Our flesh cries out for things to which it has become addicted. Our souls long to taste the sweetness of revenge through actions and simple gossip. Passion for things of this world blinds us to their true value in the eternal perspective. Somehow we’re made to feel that there’s a part of us that will just die if we don’t partake of the porridge. In reality, the partaking itself is what brings death to the greatest treasure and the greatest opportunity of our lives. The price is a great one for things of such menial and temporal importance, and the much better choice is the one that preserves our right that is directly connected to a relationship with the One from whom all true blessings flow. How often do we sit down to eat of what our stomach has demanded at the expense of our righteousness in Christ and thus despise the very thing that Jesus gave His life to provide us?

There is an opportunity today to hold onto and preserve our eternal right in Christ by refusing the demands of the world around us and the stomach pangs that would insist that there is no life without their gratification. True life and real treasure will be ours with the embrace of our righteousness in Christ over every other alternative and we’ll be able to grow in the abundance that is our right in Him.