Take What Is Handed to You.

    [29] Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. [30] And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) [31] Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” [32] Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” [33] Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. [34] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
   
(Genesis 25:29-34 ESV)

I wasn't planning on starting my blogs this way, it's just that what I was reading and what was on my heart today happened to be in these verses. I believe that the ones claiming to know God's grace, stomp on that gift and actually deny God the chance to bless us. I believe you will understand what i mean when I explain the verses.

Right before this section, it's explained that Jacob and Esau were destined to be at odds, they even wrestled in the womb. It's known that Jacob is pretty crafty as his name means "he cheats" and it seems that this verbal taunting was probably not a rare occurrence.The situation is kind of silly. Esau is apparently so exhausted that he sells his birthright (his inheritance, the blessings that he gets simply from being a firstborn son) all for a simple bowl of soup! 

Jacob is the one whom we shame in this passage because he was crafty, but the bible doesn't shame him. Instead it says of Esau, "that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal"(Hebrews 12:16 ESV). So what on earth did Esau do to deserve that to be said of him?

He took for granted the blessing.

How on earth could he miss it? His grandfather (who died when he was 15 approx.) was the most infamous of the OT saints! Promised that his descendants would be a great nation, numbering more than the stars in the heavens! He gave up the chance for God to bless him and his descendants for a measly bowl of soup!

My point is this: We are so much like Esau. We don't understand the depth of the grace we've been given! We are fooled so easily out of our right as believers for meaningless things that we find on earth. Do you not realize that all of the inheritance is yours? The eternal God grants you eternal life and to provide for you all you need (and this gift is obtained even now)! 

I was listening to Future of Forestry today and the song lyrics said this: 

"Take what you’re granted
Love be your mantra
Take what you’re handed
Love be your mantra"

Believer, stop taking grace for granted and receive what you have been granted. It's a free gift. Simply by being born into Christ you have it all. Don't allow it to be stolen or sworn away by simple pleasures of this world. Don't allow your doubts and fears and flesh to trick you out of the gift of life you have been given. 

Chelsy.