A “birthright” is something you are entitled to because you were born
under certain circumstances. Esau is the first-born son. He foolishly gives up
his birthright of inheriting his fathers’ land and spiritual blessings. Our
birthright as “Christians, “born again” in the power of the Holy Spirit, is
eternal spiritual life, joined spiritually to Jesus Christ. Our lives are
joined to His life by our love – our emotional attachment of faith. Our lives
are a constant struggle to understand this and resist the temptations of our
‘natural self’ which can cause us to lose our spiritual birth-right.
1. The Parable of the Sower explains how we get our spiritual birth-right
A parable uses a simple visible activity to explain an invisible
spiritual process. In this case the “seed” is the Word - the good news of
salvation in Jesus Christ that is explained in the Bible. This good news is
scattered everywhere, in every language and in every country. Everyone has an
opportunity to read the Bible and make the effort to understand its meaning.
Everyone can join a Bible Study group, church or fellowship where the meaning
is explained. · The key is learning and understanding.
· Understanding leads to a faith decision and being spiritually “born again”.
This is what leads
to personal spiritual growth, joined spiritually to Jesus by our love and what
is called “life in-Christ”. This is usually a long and painful journey where we
have to make hard choices. The Parable warns us of seeds being snatched by
birds, withering and dying for lack of roots and being choked out by the thorns
of busyness.
2. Satan can snatch away our spiritual birth-right like a bird taking
seed on a path.
Seed exposed on a path is very vulnerable. This is why we all need a
spiritual community. We all need the support and covering in prayer by others
that protects us from the temptations and distractions of the world. · ‘Other voices’ that tell us we are too tired or too busy to read our Bible or pray.
· Paul talks about our “natural self” that struggles against our spiritual self.
· The reason there are no solitary Christians is that we need others to help us understand the message of the Bible.
3. Our birth-right of life in-Christ can die like a plant with no roots
The “Word” - the message of the Kingdom of heaven, is not easy to grasp.
Children need a lot of teaching in the home by their parents. I remember being
shocked by a respected speaker who said we should shut down the Sunday Schools
and focus on teaching the parents to be serious Christians. What use is it to
send children to Sunday school if Dad is going to stay at home and teach them
by example that church is not important? Children need good modelling by
parents as well as basic teaching if they are going to grow up with the roots
they will need to understand the Word.
4. Our birth-right of life in Christ can be choked out by busyness
When people say they do not have time to pray or read the Bible, what
they mean is these things are not important
to them. How we spend our time is a measure of our priorities. It is healthy to
ask yourself how many hours a week you spend watching TV as opposed to reading
the Bible. How much time do you spend “relaxing” as opposed to praying? Our
lives are full of many things to do. Together they can choke off our spiritual
life and put us in the position of Esau who sold his birth-right for a bowl of
stew.
Life challenges us to claim our birth-right of spiritual life in-Christ
It is very easy to become like Esau who was so busy with hunting and so
distracted by his hunger that he forgot about God and the value of his
birth-right. As Christians we have a much more valuable birth-right. Our
birth-right is to be forgiven and made acceptable to God, even when we are not worthy.
· We need to stay focused to understand and believe this
· We need to create a clean heart for the Holy Spirit to live in
· Holy Spirit will guide us and fill us with love, joy and peace
The Parable of the
Sower reminds us that not everyone
will be able to do this, particularly those without spiritual roots in their
families; those who do not have a spiritual community and those who are
distracted by the business of life.
Let us all remember this lesson as we strive to gain and hang on to our spiritual birthright of eternal spiritual life in Christ.
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