Your Daily Devotional for May 22, 2007

 

May 22,  2007

 

 

Choosing to Identify with Christ

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."

 

Hebrews 11:24-25

 

 

Over the past few days we have been looking at the subject of living by faith. We saw that we must place our trust in Christ and allow Him to have control of our lives each day. Yesterday, we saw that Moses' parents chose to surrender to God. They chose to trust God, and He blessed them.

 

Because Moses' parents trusted God, He protected Moses, and through a series of events He guided Moses to grow up in the palace as the princess' son. As Moses became a young man, he had to make a decision. He could choose to live the life of a prince and one day possibly rule Egypt, or he could choose to follow God and to identify with God's people.

 

Moses chose the latter. Hebrews 11:24 says, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter." Moses refused to be called an Egyptian prince and he chose instead to follow God's call.

 

This decision required faith. Moses was leaving the comforts and cares of palace life, but he had faith that God would take care of him.

 

This decision to identify with God required suffering. Hebrews 11:25 says, "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Moses chose to suffer the physical pains of being a slave rather than the comforts of being a prince. He chose to trust God rather than take part in sin.

 

The Israelites were captives of the Egyptians, and to identify with the Israelites was to embrace a life of hardship. Yet Moses chose this, not because it was the easy way, but because it was the right way.

 

Every Christian who chooses to walk by faith and identify with Jesus Christ will suffer some form of persecution. Living for pleasure and sin always leads to a wasted life and heartache. But choosing to identify with Christ and living for Him brings eternal rewards! When we choose to live by faith and identify with Christ, He will guide and bless us.

 

Have you chosen to identify with Christ by living for Him? It may mean leaving the cares and comforts of this world, but Christ will bless your life and will give you strength and protection as you live for Him! Choose to identify with Christ by living for Him today.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 16-18 • John 7:28-53

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