Reading Hebrews 11 verse 24 jumped out at me this morning. "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."
And as I read this I thought of 2 Cor 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
Moses had everything at his feet, wealth, popularity, etc, yet he gave it all up and walked the path of God. Imagine how hard that must have been choosing rather to suffer affliction at the hand of his own family.
I have had several dreams lately of people coming under persecution and being killed for their faith, some walking away from their faith. One this morning was where a group of people were walking this path and all these rocks were falling down around them and it made me think of people being 'stoned' by others, perhaps with their judgements etc.
When trial comes it is easy to fall away, to question, to point the finger, to whatever, but I want to encourage you as it says in Heb 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus too like Moses on the cross suffered the shame that was not his, yet He too did it for something greater than himself. Let these stories of faith be encouragement for you as you walk through whatever may be the trial for you, whatever your family may say against you, whatever people may stone you with in their judgements towards you, knowing that others too have walked a similar path and their stories can help us continue to walk ours. Many blessings this Christmas/New Year.
And as I read this I thought of 2 Cor 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
Moses had everything at his feet, wealth, popularity, etc, yet he gave it all up and walked the path of God. Imagine how hard that must have been choosing rather to suffer affliction at the hand of his own family.
I have had several dreams lately of people coming under persecution and being killed for their faith, some walking away from their faith. One this morning was where a group of people were walking this path and all these rocks were falling down around them and it made me think of people being 'stoned' by others, perhaps with their judgements etc.
When trial comes it is easy to fall away, to question, to point the finger, to whatever, but I want to encourage you as it says in Heb 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus too like Moses on the cross suffered the shame that was not his, yet He too did it for something greater than himself. Let these stories of faith be encouragement for you as you walk through whatever may be the trial for you, whatever your family may say against you, whatever people may stone you with in their judgements towards you, knowing that others too have walked a similar path and their stories can help us continue to walk ours. Many blessings this Christmas/New Year.