… choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin…
–Hebrews 11:25
During the first forty years of his life, living as a privileged child in Pharaoh’s palace, Moses received the finest education available. But for all he had learned, he still was not prepared to deliver Israel out of the hand of Pharaoh.
There was still much more Moses had to learn. In fact, it took forty more years for him to prepare! But this education didn’t take place in the comfort of a splendid home, rather it took place in the wilderness of Egypt’s desert, where Moses fled as a fugitive after killing an Egyptian guard.
Can you imagine this? The man who had experienced the best of everything the world had to offer was now living on the backside of nowhere working as a shepherd!
You see, Moses’ decision to identify with God came at a price. Even so, he chose to embrace his calling… rather than enjoy the pleasures he had known.
So what does this mean to you and me? I’ll tell you. It costs to identify with God. Jesus said, “Pick up our cross and follow me.” You have to let go of the world to take hold of Jesus. You must be steadfast, like Moses, even if it’s different or difficult.
This is your calling: Take hold of your cross with both hands, pick it up, and follow him!
IT COSTS TO IDENTIFY WITH GOD.
