Bible Training

Choose Your Future Only the right values will give you the future you want. If God has a plan for our lives – if God has a purpose for our lives – is it possible that we could miss it? God does not force us to accept or reject His will and follow His Will for our lives – He does not force us to obey or reject His directions – sometimes we miss what He wants us to enjoy because of the choices we make. Deuteronomy 30 verses 15 and 16 - “Today I AM GIVING YOU A CHOICE. You can choose life and success or death and disaster. I am commanding you to love the Lord your God, to live the way he has told you, and to obey his laws and teachings. You are about to cross the Jordan River and take the land that he is giving you. IF you obey him, you will live and become successful and powerful.” God does not want us to fail – God wants us to succeed. “But if you disobey, and refuse to listen, and are led away to worship other gods, you will be destroyed. You will not live long in that land across the Jordan that you are about to occupy. I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing or curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. CHOOSE LIFE!” Verses 17 to 19. They could lose the very thing God had planned for their lives. Joseph chose life – although at enormous cost and suffering and humiliation at times. It is important as to how we react and respond when bad things happen – Joseph has much to teach us on this – Joseph controlled his choices – he could have become bitter – but what happened was that he became better. How do we change certain things – we change the value we place on the things around us. God gave the leader the choice – before he asked the people to make a choice. Moses is the leader who emerges four hundred years after Joseph. Moses made four life changing choices. Moses life is summarised in the Book of Hebrews. “By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, REFUSED to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He CHOSE to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He REGARDED disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he PERSEVERED because he saw him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11 verses 23 to 27. Pharaoh had become afraid that his country would be taken over by foreigners who had come during the famine. Moses is raised as an Egyptian – the grandson of Pharaoh. 1. REFUSE to be defined by others – do not let other people determine your identity. “By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, REFUSED to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” Hebrews 11 verse 24. Moses is a slave – a Hebrew slave – but he is raised as the grandson of Pharaoh – he has luxury all around him – what is he going to do – Moses refuses to live a lie – he insists on being what God made him to be. Who do we let determine who we are? What do we call this – PEER PRESSURE! “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God remould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good . . .” Romans 12 verse 2 Moses refused to live a lie – Moses REFUSED! Exodus 23 verse 2 – Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. “Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 4 When you know who you are, your fear goes down – you no longer become afraid of what other people think of you. Joseph too knew who he was – and he knew God was with him. Jeremiah 29 verse 11 - “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for your good, plans to prosper you and not harm you. They are plans to give you hope and a future.” 2. CHOOSE short term pain for long term gain – now this is what Moses did – but Joseph knew a lot about this – so did JESUS. Sometimes the right thing to do is hard – if it was easy to do the right thing more people would do the right thing. Hebrews 11 verse 25 - “Moses CHOSE to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” Sin is FUN – there is pleasure in sin – or not so many people would be involved – but for a season – for a short time – a limited time. God having chosen Moses – Moses now chooses God – verse 25. When Moses grew up he had to make his own decisions. People can hurt you – harm you – scar you – but nobody out there can ruin you. You may be a product of your past – but you are not a prisoner of your past. JOSEPH certainly knew that too. God will use pain and hardship to help me to grow. Fame – pleasure – possessions – that is what the world values. Moses walked away from these because Moses knew they did not last. God’s purpose is more valuable than popularity. If Moses had stayed as Pharaoh’s grandson nobody would have known anything about him – we would never have heard his name. Verse 25 - People are more important than pleasure – Moses goes to help a bunch of needy slaves – but he knew who he was. Verse 26 - Peace of mind is more valuable than possessions – Moses gave up everything which more people are trying to get. God will reward me when this life on earth is over. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 17 - “These present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!” 3. CHOOSE – to follow Jesus Christ - “Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” Hebrews 11 verse 26. The world values - Popularity, Prestige & Power verse 24 (pride of life) – Pleasure - “the pleasures of sin” verse 25 and Possessions - “the treasures of Egypt” verse 26. “The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.” 1 John 2 verse 17. WHAT GOD VALUES – 1 - God’s purpose is more important than popularity v. 24 2 – People are more important than pleasure v. 25 3 – Peace of mind is more valuable than possessions v. 26 4. MOSES PERSEVERED – as did Joseph. “By faith, Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11 verse 27 Moses chose to live by faith – verse 27 – Moses went up against the most powerful man in the world at that time. The Pharaoh was regarded as a god – but Moses knew he was not. Only the right values will give you the future you want – do not miss it. “Loving Father – merciful God – help us to make good choices – wise choices – right choices – choices that are in line with Your Holy Word – we cannot improve upon Your Word and Your Ways. Help us not to be unwise and follow a crowd going in the wrong direction. Jesus, when it is not easy, help us – guide us – lead us.” Amen. (This week's "Word from Scotland" - previous articles may be found at Studylight - warrmest greetings in Christ Jesus.)