Hebrews 11:24-26

Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Moses rejected the fineries and power of Pharaoh's household, turning to the wilderness to live as a shepherd. God spoke to him there about the purpose of his life. Sometimes we want to receive everything this world has to offer while expecting God to hear our prayers and to talk to us. John says if the love of world is in anyone, the love of the Father is not in him. American Christian beliefs sometimes center on gathering around us as much as we can of the world and then adding God to the mix. In fact, the current prosperity theology teaches we can have God and the world too. But we read in Luke, No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13 KJV) Moses was God's instrument in the Old Testament because he lived by faith and looked ahead. People of faith seek God, always looking for a new land, a place where God dwells. This world is not their home. They refuse to settle in the land of Pharaoh regardless of the comfort and power that might come. I think Jesus understood this when He said there would not be very many great and powerful believers. Most Christians do not seek this world; instead, they are known for their generosity, concern, patience, and selflessness. THEY DO NOT FOCUS ON THIS WORLD; THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A HEAVENLY HOME.

As I look at the American church, I believe we have strayed from the truth. The media church in particular sometimes manipulates us to follow the world's pattern of getting the most we can out of this life. When this lie skews our attitude, we usually avoid servanthood, leaning towards self-preservation and earthly gain. Our choices even convince our children that more of this, and a bigger that connote success in life. Of course, a fleshly lifestyle leads our children into self-absorption and a belief that possessions and wealth bring happiness. Sadly this focus on the world brings the self and its ME-FIRST attitude to center stage in every situation in life. A carnally minded person makes choices based on how they affect him, and he does not willingly put the needs of others above his own. If necessary the individual looking out for number one will sacrifice the life of another human being to protect his possessions, his earthly kingdom. A self-centered, self-obsessed life follows man's purposes while ignoring the way of the cross.

New Testament Christians focused on obeying God and sacrificing their lives for others. They followed Jesus' commands to love, serve, and help others. Jesus even asked us to love our enemies and to do good to those who would harm us. He spoke of the good Samaritan who stopped on his journey to care for a Jewish man. He not only bound his wounds, he paid for all of the man's expenses at an inn until he recovered. The Samaritan loved his enemy. When Christians think only of their needs, even grousing about their taxes providing health care for the indigent and the working poor, their attitude reveals how far we have fallen from Christ's teachings. Christians do not merely ask Jesus into our lives, we must believe his words, taking up the cross to follow him. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (1 John 3-6) Jesus, OUR LORD, is generous, kind, gentle, loving, caring, long suffering, and patient. Paul said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5) He came to serve, we also serve. We leave the castle of leisure and live as servants of the Most High, leading our children and many others out of bondage. Today, forsake the comforts of your castle, looking ahead by faith to a better life.