Hebrews 11:24-26
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
When Moses chose to follow God, there is much he was turning his back on. He could have spent the rest of his life enjoying the comforts of royalty high above the rest of the people, especially the Hebrew slaves. However, when he left the palaces and looked on the burdens of his people and the abuse they were enduring through their Egyptian slave drivers he chose to help them by killing their oppressor. This event sent him fleeing into the wilderness where God met him at the burning bush to send him back as God’s ambassador.
Look at the way the writer of Hebrews puts it, he chose affliction and persecution over sinful pleasures, he chose the promise of riches in Christ over the abundant riches of the Egyptian empire. I am convinced that one of the greatest enemies that we face today is the enemy of comfort. We like things the way they have always been. We don’t like to rock the boat. We like to stay comfortable. But God calls us to leave our comfort zones and follow him. Sometimes its to the mission field, sometimes its in front of a Sunday school class, sometimes its across the street to share the gospel with a neighbor.
Compared to what Moses gave up to follow God, having to get up off of my comfy recliner to serve him seems like a small thing, but that doesn’t mean its still not difficult. I pray often that God keeps me uncomfortable. I don’t ever want to find myself satisfied with my walk with Christ, with my service to Christ. I want to be like Paul and always be looking ahead to the horizon, following hard after Him.
Today as we ReFocus our hearts and minds on Christ let us examine our walk with Him and determine to choose the Riches of Christ over anything this world has to offer!