By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:24-27

Moses made a choice that made all the difference. This decision drastically changed his circumstances here on earth and in eternity. The decision was whether to live for the “here and now” or for the “there and then.”

Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Thus, he would not identify himself with the Egyptians and their practice of oppressing the Hebrew people. Moses refused to continue to serve in a court that mistreated God’s people.

In refusing this identification Moses lost his high position in Pharaoh’s palace. He, thus, missed out on a life of opulence and ease. He missed out on the opportunities to fulfill every fleshly desire that palace life would have afforded him because he knew fleshly desires are fleeting.

Because of his decision Moses suffered. He shared the trials of the Hebrew people with whom he chose to identify himself. There were dangers involved in this identification that meant he had to flee for his life and spend forty years in exile in the land of Midian.

But what Moses gained was worth it all. He had the favor of God. Through Moses God gave liberty to the Hebrew people; thus, Moses fulfilled his highest potential in being useful for God’s plan. Because of his decision, Moses received the riches of heaven (Matthew 17:3), greater than anything earth can offer.
How did Moses see his way clear to make this all-important decision? How could he suffer in this life and yet be triumphant? He did it by faith. He saw Him who is invisible. By faith he respected God’s reward for a faithful life and received it (Hebrews 11:6).

What decision will you make? Will you live for the here and now? Or looking to the invisible God, will you live by faith?

-Mark Day

Perhaps you’ve heard the old idiom for describing someone dependent on their mother, “they’re tied to mother’s apron strings.” Dependence on mothers is good and beneficial in childhood. The law of a godly mother learned in the formative years of life will be a good resource and rule to live by throughout life (Proverbs 6:20-23). Who better to set an example before children than a godly parent who lives the virtues of Christianity day by day? Parents who know how they should act as children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation are the best education for children (Philippians 2:15). God’s intention for the family is that deep, abiding impressions can be made by godly parents in the formative years of life (Ephesians 6:4; 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:4).

But the time must come when mother’s apron strings must be untied. As a child grows into an adult and possesses the maturity and independence to stand on their own, then dependence on their parents diminishes. Time and again the Bible speaks of marriage as a time when one will “leave father and mother” (Genesis 2:24; Ruth 2:11; Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7; Ephesians 5:31). This leaving does not mean that the child never considers the advice of their parents, for the command to honor parents still applies to adults who have old parents (Proverbs 23:22). Just as death is the natural end of a successful life and often brings sadness, so also the success of parenthood culminates in the sad day of allowing the little birds to leave the nest and find their own place in the world.

Consider Mary who was told by Simeon regarding her son, Jesus, “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also” (Luke 2:35). Many times from that point on she had felt piercing pain of the sword when her son left her to fulfill His own responsibilities to the Heavenly Father. She lost Him at the Passover when He was twelve years old, only to find Him three days later discussing God’s word with the doctors of the law. Her son’s answer was, “I must by about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). When Mary wanted her son to help at the marriage in Cana, He told her, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come” (John 2:4). Though the word translated “woman” was a respectful title, it was not “mother.” When she desired to take Jesus away from speaking to the people in Matthew 12, her son’s reply was, “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?” and stretching forth His hand toward his disciples, He said, “Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:47-50). And finally, when she beheld her son nailed to a cross, suspended between heaven and earth to save all mankind, He provided for her wellbeing through the disciple John, saying, “Woman, behold thy son!” Then He said to John, “Behold thy mother!” and John took Mary to his own home to care for her (John 19:26-28).

Thank God for godly mothers, who give such wonderful blessings to their children’s lives only to see them leave home and go their own way. Truly a godly mother’s love is the epitome of self-sacrifice and tender care worthy of our praise.

–Mark Day