Hebrews 11:24-28
By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. He chose a hard life with God’s people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors. He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff. By an act of faith, he turned his heel on Egypt, indifferent to the king’s blind rage. He had his eye on the One no eye can see, and kept right on going. By an act of faith, he kept the Passover Feast and sprinkled Passover blood on each house so that the destroyer of the firstborn wouldn’t touch them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I still remember when a lifelong friend of mine telephoned his wife from another state, where he had traveled on business, to tell her that he was quitting his lucrative job as a sales manager for a five-state area in order to return to college and earn a teaching degree. He became a second grade teacher… one of the best I’ve ever known. He took a lot of flak for this decision, but quite frankly, we don’t have enough male teachers in elementary classrooms, where many children need a strong, positive masculine influence.
I recall the words of 17-year-old Cassie Bernall, a senior at Columbine High School, who was reportedly asked, “Do you believe in God?” by one of two deranged shooters who killed 15 people and injured twenty-four more. Observers report that when Bernall answered, “Yes,” she was shot and killed. Some claim that several students were asked this same question - not just Bernall - but the story of her supposed encounter and response has circulated the world and caused more than one person to choose to follow Jesus.
We are not all called to make noble sacrifices. We will not all be faced with choosing to stay stuck in a career we don’t enjoy or “changing gears” and going in a different direction. Most of us will not face the decision of whether to sign up to serve our country in the military, as countless men and women have before us – and more will in the future. I pray that none of us will ever be asked at gunpoint whether we love Jesus. But we will each face choices and decisions that frame our lives and define us... and how we respond will have lifelong - if not eternal - impact.
If you have not chosen a life partner and/or spouse, you probably will. You may be faced with the decision to have children – or not… to change majors – or universities… to change jobs or move to another area of the country (or another country altogether)…to end – or drastically alter – friendships, lifestyles, and more. At every turn, we face choices… and there will be plenty of people just like the Egyptian king who are unhappy with your decisions – if not reduced to blind rage, as this scripture mentions. Not every choice we make will be popular, and we will have to endure the ramifications and consequences. Just because we listen to God and choose to do what He directs does not ensure smooth sailing.
As this scripture passage indicates, this all comes down to a matter of faith. When we trust God and listen to His voice, our choices may be difficult… they may raise eyebrows among family and friends…and they may cause our heart to race as we commit to God and believe in Him for the desired outcome. But like Moses, we will be looking ahead to a bigger payoff… we will have our eye on the One no eye can see. And HE will make the ultimate difference.
Whatever decisions you face today, prayerfully consider your options and LISTEN for God’s voice. Follow His direction…trust His plans… choose faithfully… and trust Him to handle the rest.
©2013 Debbie Robus
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