Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn. [Genesis 25.34]
Once again, in my annual reading through the Bible, this passage has stood out to me.
The reason this passage stands out to me again is that it is a sad story of a person squandering a privilege - a right - for temporary personal fulfillment. Esau was born into this privilege because he was born first. He did not choose his position, but it was bestowed upon him. And yet, he disrespected the great privilege of his life.
I think I really see myself today in Esau. I also see the church.
Jesus clearly spoke that He had been given "all authority' in Matthew 28.18. We see that Jesus, unlike Esau, did NOT show contempt for His privilege but, in fact, embraced His position by preaching the Good News to the poor, proclaiming release for captives, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and that the time of God's favor had come (Luke 4.18-19). He did this with all authority!
But let's look at Matthew 28.18:
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Let's focus for a moment on the "Therefore" in the verse above. "Therefore" means that what was just spoken before its use has affect on what follows its use. What was said before was that Jesus claimed "all authority." What followed was that, based on Jesus' authority (all authority) He was sending out His followers IN THE SAME AUTHORITY TO DO THE SAME WORK.
Proof? John 20.21: Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
This is serious. If we, as believers in Jesus Christ, do not walk this earth - live our lives - as Jesus demonstrated - in the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the Good News to the poor, proclaiming release for captives, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and that the time of God's favor had come, then we, like Esau are showing contempt for our birthright.
When our steps are ordered by the world and not by God, we are showing contempt for our rights in Christ.
Father, forgive me for showing contempt for my rights in Jesus Christ. Help me to walk in the fullness of the privilege I have been given - the privilege to change the world in which I live.
Once again, in my annual reading through the Bible, this passage has stood out to me.
The reason this passage stands out to me again is that it is a sad story of a person squandering a privilege - a right - for temporary personal fulfillment. Esau was born into this privilege because he was born first. He did not choose his position, but it was bestowed upon him. And yet, he disrespected the great privilege of his life.
I think I really see myself today in Esau. I also see the church.
Jesus clearly spoke that He had been given "all authority' in Matthew 28.18. We see that Jesus, unlike Esau, did NOT show contempt for His privilege but, in fact, embraced His position by preaching the Good News to the poor, proclaiming release for captives, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and that the time of God's favor had come (Luke 4.18-19). He did this with all authority!
But let's look at Matthew 28.18:
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Let's focus for a moment on the "Therefore" in the verse above. "Therefore" means that what was just spoken before its use has affect on what follows its use. What was said before was that Jesus claimed "all authority." What followed was that, based on Jesus' authority (all authority) He was sending out His followers IN THE SAME AUTHORITY TO DO THE SAME WORK.
Proof? John 20.21: Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
This is serious. If we, as believers in Jesus Christ, do not walk this earth - live our lives - as Jesus demonstrated - in the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the Good News to the poor, proclaiming release for captives, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and that the time of God's favor had come, then we, like Esau are showing contempt for our birthright.
When our steps are ordered by the world and not by God, we are showing contempt for our rights in Christ.
Father, forgive me for showing contempt for my rights in Jesus Christ. Help me to walk in the fullness of the privilege I have been given - the privilege to change the world in which I live.
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