Have you ever felt rejected, unloved, or overlooked? Can you
relate with Leah in the Bible? Here is a woman who was the eldest of two
daughters to their father Laban. Your younger sister is very beautiful and you
are not. All the men bypass you and then look to your younger sister. Then
on top of that, your own father manipulates an agreement with the groom of that
younger sister to marry you. He does this by putting you in the marriage
bed with your sister’s fiancé. (That is messed up) Then in the
morning this groom realizes that you are not who he thought you were. In
anger he goes to your father and complains about how he had to take you as his
wife. This is probably not the kind of wedding night that you were
dreaming of. Can you imagine that kind of rejection and being unloved in
that way? In fact even after having four sons she hoped it would cause
her unsuspecting husband to love her. Every human person has to deal with
rejection on some level. For some it seems that at every turn of life
they are constantly being rejected by somebody or something. It so important
that we learn to deal with rejection. Remember, Jesus was rejected by everyone
and even His Father God turned His head from him. He knew rejection like no one
has ever known. Yet, he forgave his rejecters and loved them anyways.
Wow! The power of forgiving those who reject us will allow us to
draw from a power that flows from a source opened 2000 years ago on the Cross.
This is an active demonstration of the spirit's power in our life to do
what we can't overcome by ourselves. Now allow me to finish the rest of
this story of these two sisters Rachel and Leah. Rachel was loved by
Jacob, while Leah was a tag along. However, as life came to its finale
Jacob buried Rachel in a grave along the way reserving the grave next to him
for Leah. Through all that rejection Jacob and Leah actually became more “in
love” then the love he had with Rachel. It is amazing what God can do
when you deal with your rejection, but it starts with you!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Birthright
In the Jonathan Biffert clan I am
the proud possessor of the Biffert Birthright! Now you may wonder why I
am even wasting your time to brag about my position among my family.
Before you stop reading take a moment and consider your birthright if you
have one, and think about how we really have no understanding of the importance
of birthright in our culture. In America all that our parents own is evenly
dispersed among all of the children. Often funerals can be a cat fight
about who is going to get what. However, in the ancient days, it was the
first born that would inherit 'The Blessing' of the father. The
birthright was a very tangible mantle that was passed on through generations.
In the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau they understood the birthright.
Now your thinking wasn't it Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? You are right,
however, Jacob was not the firstborn. In fact, Esau was the firstborn and
entitled to his father’s birthright. However, he lost sight of the
importance of that mantle on his life. Jacob was searching for a way to
gain that favor
and blessing. One day the opportunity presented itself. Esau
famished from a long hunt in the wild happened upon Jacob making a pot of red
stew (Wendy's chili). It smelled so good and started peek the taste buds
in Esau's mouth. He begged Jacob for a bowl but he refused to give Esau
anything until Esau surrendered his birthright. In that moment Esau in
total disregard for his destiny, The Blessing of his Grandfather, and the promises of his
Birthright made the decision to change the course of history and sell his
birthright (Salvation, destiny, favor and blessing) for a bowl of chili.
The cravings and appetites of his stomach beset Esau future.
Satan works in the same pattern
against our lives. Through Jesus Christ the believer possesses 'the
birthright' of the Kingdom of God. This ‘birthright’ is our mark of being
a person of Christ, a possessor of His inheritance, and a channel of His Grace.
Satan’s whole existence is to create a stew that would be so tempting
that it would cause you to sell your birthright for a temporary pleasure.
When you are in the valley, and your life seems famished and weary,
beware of the man with a pot of chili. Beware of the person, or
philosophies, or even pleasures that try to get you to abandon your faith in
the birthright for your life. Never undervalue the importance of the
birthright in your life. It is that birthright that will cause you to have True
life on earth with a lasting legacy leading you to the eternal life in Heaven.
What is it that is trying to get you to sell out your birthright in order
to possess a fleeting pleasure?