FOLLOWING THE MASTER – A Lenten Devotional

27^th Day of Lent

March 11, 2016

Your Divine Birthright

Copyright 2016 Monica Hernandez

"And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright...And Esau said...what profit shall this birthright do to me?" (Genesis 25:31,32, KJV).

The story of Jacob and Esau is a long-time favourite both in Sunday school classes and among adults, as well. On an earthly level, it provides us with various lessons to help us be wise in accepting offers from others and making decisions in trading or selling what is ours. And on a heavenly level it tells us about our Father’s love and provision for us.

Regardless of houses and lands and properties that might be laid up for you in this world, you have a birthright that is divine, laid up for you by God, your Father, and it is priceless.

You have a birthrightCa divine birthright. Primarily, your divine birthright is that you are created in the image and likeness of your Creator. This affords you dominion and mastery over the earth.

Your divine birthright is fourfold in nature: firstly, you were created in the image and likeness of your heavenly Father who is omnipotent, sees and knows all things, and is every where present. Secondly, you were created with the potential for dominion and mastery over all things in the earth.

Thirdly, you were created with a spirit of power, love and a sound mind, and fourthly, you have access to a Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, which promises abundant living to you, not only in the future but even today.

Think about this: can anyone take your birthright from you? No. Like Esau you would literally have to trade it and become a loser because there is nothing to compare with your inheritance of dominion, creativity, mastery and abundance, laid up for you by God, your Father. Even so, you can never truly lose that birthright because it is yours by divine default.

In spiritual ignorance, you may yield your sense of birthright to circumstances that pressure you, but you can truly never lose it. At any time you find yourself yielding to the pressures of this world‑system, you can stop, turn around in repentance and prayer and you will regain your sense of birthright.

Take a few moments to inquire of yourself: Can anyone deny me the goods of the Kingdom of heaven? Can anyone prevent me from receiving my inheritance from God? To both questions, the answer is Ano.@ And if you seem to have lost your sense of birthright it is because you have yielded it.

SUGGESTED READINGS: Genesis1:26‑28; Genesis 25:31-33; James 1:17.

PRAYER: "Heavenly Father, help me to understand and appreciate my birthright in you. Amen"

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

No one can take my God-given birthright from me.