Daily Affirmations - Day 5 - To Whom I Belong - My Master And My Friend
Day 5: My Master and my Friend
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 fleeting pleasures of sin. 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 (Hebrews 11:24-26).
Heavenly Father, we know that this troubled world is not our permanent home. You have instructed us not to pin our desires or hopes on it, or on anything in it, for the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:17).
You know, O Lord, that the choices are often difficult. The hymn writer expresses it well— ...The world is ever near, I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear.*
And yet, we know with certainty that everything in this life is for a short span, and that death separates us from all earthly possessions, stores, accumulations, ambitions, adulations: Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands (Ecclesiastes 5:15).
Father, defend us against the pull of this world— its temptations, persuasions, corruptions, compromises. Open our eyes to see the ways that we drift into, buy into, and opt into, the systems, structures, and standards of this world.
Give us the wisdom, the vision, and the fortitude to choose, as Moses did, a kingdom that cannot be shaken, instead of the fleeting pleasures of earthly courts and earthly power (Hebrews 11:25,12:28). Help us to fix our eyes on the unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Give us grace to walk in the way of the faithful (Hebrews 11), following Jesus, our Master and Friend.
In our everyday choices, large and small— in our thoughts and preoccupations, goals and pursuits— may we willingly sacrifice temporary "profits"— the baubles that entice, taunt, and troll us— in order to embrace greater value than the treasures of [this life] (Hebrews 11:26).
Remind us of the blessed sight at the end of our faith: Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:16).
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