The High Calling of God

2 Corinthians 11: 23-31 This morning I was reading this passage of scripture about all the things that the Apostle Paul went through and yet he could still praise the Lord for all His goodness. I thought about how much we can  learn during our times of difficulties and weaknesses if we go through them trusting and leaning on the Lord. I was reminded of the pearl of great price in Matthew 13:45-46. It is a parable about the kingdom of God and a merchant who was searching for beautiful pearls. When he found the pearl of great price he went and sold everything he had to purchase it. That great pearl was Jesus Christ. If we desire more out of our Christian life than the ordinary- we must be willing to search for it. Many times it is through adversity and trials that we really find those pearls, those beautiful treasures from the Lord. When we let the Lord take over our attitudes during these times, when we focus on Christ and His will, we will come through on the other side of tha

Most of us who went to Sunday School as youngsters remember the story of the two brothers Jacob and Esau. Genesis 25:29-34 tells of an incident where Jacob had made some stew while Esau was working in the field. Esau was born first which was an honor and he would eventually obtain a double portion of the family inheritance. But Esau came in from the field tired and hungry and pleaded for some of the stew. Verses 31-34 : "But Jacob said, 'Sell me your birthright as of this day.' And Esau said, 'Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?' Then Jacob said, 'Swear to me as of this day.' So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils, then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." How many Christians today settle for less than God's best for them. They cross the line when they think they are in a pinch. At what point do we go ahead and exchang