Our culture emphasizes living in the moment and satisfying our immediate desires. God emphasizes living in the Spirit, practicing self-control, and seeking to fulfill God's purposes in our lives.
In Genesis 25:29-34 Esau came in from hunting and demanded a bowl of stew from Jacob. Jacob, his manipulative younger brother, said he'd give him stew only if Esau gave up his birthright.
As the oldest son, Esau had the right to a double-portion inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17), but he was "living in the moment." His desire for instant gratification led him to give away half of his inheritance for a bowl of stew.
Esau is a historic example of the godlessness that results from a lust for instant gratification (Hebrews 12:16-17).
And every day, people follow his example: having sex outside of marriage, gambling away their income, overspending, overeating, neglecting responsibilities, etc.
Self-control, delayed gratification, and patience are rare and wonderful qualities and they lead to the greatest rewards.
So let's choose to live in the Spirit instead of living in the moment.
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Note: While "living in the moment" can mean simply enjoying your present situation, it also carries with it this negative connotation.
To reinforce the truths in this devotion, you can read The Evolution of Patience and We Need It: Patience.
And please check out the Bite Size Study Esau Sought Instant Gratification.
Bible Love Notes
Very useful thank you
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