By Faith Giving Up, to Gain

 Hebrews 22-24-26: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ 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.

This is a few of the kids from the Save Orphans Ministry Care Center that when we showed up to be with them, greeted us with song and dance.  Their emphatic worship of GOD led each of us to tears in 2009 because the song they sang in their native tongue said, " They have left the comforts of their home, Like Christ, to come dwell with us.  And We Praise You GOD!"  Never before had I looked at my life here in the U.S. like that, as if it were some cheap happy meal version of heaven, but the reality of it, is that really......it is.  We have our 2000+ square feet homes, in our well to do districts, with our current hip automobiles, and more channels on our TV than the primitive 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, and 30 dialed sets of old..  So we are privileges to come to Malawi, one of the, if not THE poorest countries in Africa, where there will be none of the luxuries aforementioned....but what we would find is meaning for each of our lives.   See Moses grew up with the best of the best, but his heart broke for injustice, so much so his deep compassion, led him to be with those who had been suffering, and mistreated.   So much so, Moses spent the remainder of his adult life with these same people, who complained and cause him much grief towards the end of his life.    But he didn't leave them, and I believe it was because he wanted to see people connect to the GOD he met in the desert, and he knew that if he could get them to KNOW HIM they too, would be willing to give up (the THINGS), to gain ETERNITY (with the KING)!

What about you?  Would you give up the promotion....to be with people that need the connection to the CHRIST you know?  Would you be BOLD enough to make feeding the homeless a priority?  Or sign up for a short term or long term missions trip?  What will you have given up by the end of  your life to gain (what)?  I hope you all are looking ahead.....to what's after this side of eternity, by how you are living today!