Straight Thinking 042868 It Takes Faith
Straight Thinking
042868
IT TAKES FAITH
Sunday. Of all things, Moses refused to be the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. That refusal cost him the pharaohship. A comparison of the Old Testament record with Egyptian history seemingly shows that Moses could have been in line for the throne of Egypt. How many people would turn down the presidency of the United States to serve God? It takes faith to refuse. (Read Hebrews 11:24.)
Monday. Moses had become an adult when he left the palace in Egypt. The kind of faith he demonstrated is a matter for grown-ups with mature minds. Young person, the teen years have the highest fatality rate in regard to spiritual interest and Christian faithfulness. This is the very time when God expects you to take your stand for the truth. Those who are grow-up should act like it faithwise. (Read 1 Corinthians 16:13.)
Tuesday. Appetites are strongest when they’re young, but Moses rejected the sinful pleasures of court life. Sin may bring satisfaction, but only for a season. The pleasure of sin is a madness of the moment; it only picks us up to let us down. Young people may enjoy living in sin, but they don’t live happily ever after. (Read Hebrews 11:25.)
Wednesday. Instead of wandering aimlessly after the desert mirages of pleasure and sin, Moses chose “to suffer ill treatment with the people of God.” We will not be the only ones who suffer for God; fellow Christians throughout the world will share ill treatment with us. And even as the pleasure of sin is for a season, so also will be the affliction of God’s people; but the punishment for sin and the reward for suffering are eternal. Choose wisely. (Read 1 Peter 5:8-9.)
Thursday. He looked “unto the recompense of reward.” The reward motive for serving God should not be considered selfish one; but if it is so called, we must add that there is nothing wrong with self-ishness as long as personal interest does not come at the expense of general welfare and as long as we do not gain our reward at the expense of someone else. (Read Hebrews 11:26.)
Friday. The genius of Christianity is that we cannot receive our own reward without helping other people receive it too. We must lead the people of bondage through the deserts of life and the waters of Jordan, looking to ourselves lest, having saved others, we should only see the mountains of the heavenly Jerusalem from the peak of our earthly Pisgah. We can’t make it into the promised land alone. (Read 1 Corinthians 9:27; Deuteronomy 34:1-4.)
Saturday. “By faith he forsook Egypt.” It’s easier to refuse the bird in the bush than to let go of the one in the hand, but Moses left the throne room of Egypt for the deserts of Sinai, and forsook being king of earth to be servant of heaven. It takes faith to forsake. (Read Hebrews 11:27.)
Virgil Warren, Straight, April 28, 1968, p13 christir.org