Consider

I started my day wrong. Just going to write it out. I picked up my phone and went right on social media and began comparing. All of a sudden my heart crashed, my mind dived and I was a mess. I walked into the kitchen and began complaining to myself and the dog, who just wanted to have her breakfast. Everything was wrong. I was unhappy and …

I stopped. Wait a minute. I had stopped picking up my phone first. Why was I looking at my phone? Habits die hard, don’t they? Yet, here’s a life lesson for me.

In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus.

I can’t do the comparing thing. I have to give it all to Jesus. I have to begin with him and lay all of my stuff with him today.

I’m studying Hebrews 11 with Pam Gillaspie and learning so much. Today, I gleaned a word that I want share with you from some verses.

Hebrews 11¹¹  By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true [to His word].

¹⁹ For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking. 

²⁶ [Moses]He considered the reproach of the ^[c]Christ [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God]. 

To consider. I’ve never pondered that before, yet what follows this word in the text is so rich, so powerful, I’m drawn.

Sarah was OLLLLLLDDDD and guys, she laughed at God. Lets remember that. And that’s not even mentioned. She is here, applauded for her faith. She is here because she esteemed him. She looked ahead and knew. God gave her a promise and she knew he was reliable and true. How many of us need that today? Think how long she waited for her child. We have Jesus. We have the Spirit.

Abraham brought Isaac to the altar and laid him down. Why? The writer of Hebrews says, A was confident in God’s ability to bring him back. FROM THE DEAD. Whatever you want to do, God. I’ll hold my son loosely. He’s yours. He considered it reasonable to believe. Today, we are facing circumstances that challenge our fears of finance, health, you name it. Lets hold it loosely. Let us be confident in God’s abilities.

Moses would rather have the rebuke for faithful obedience to God than greater wealth. He considered the reproach of Christ to be greater than the wealth of Egypt. He looked ahead to the reward of God instead. Let us fix our eyes on Christ today.

So, let us start our days well. Let us consider Christ. Let us be reminded of these people who were just like us. They were people. Fix our eyes on Christ.

Peace.