When I was in late middle school, I played baseball on a really good team. At one of our tournaments, a really pretty girl showed up. All of us in the dug out started a competition to get this girls attention. I am up to bat and I step in the batters box and in my most manly pose, then I wink at the girl and point to the outfield. Embarrassing I know… Then I look to the pitcher and see the ball coming toward my head. Then it happened. I got hit in the temple with the ball and get knocked out. I fall to the plate and needless to say I did not impress the girl.
Here is what I learned. When you pursue the wrong label… it hurts! Last week we talked about Jacob and how the labels that were put on him negatively effected his behavior. The next label that effects us is the labels that we pursue. Jacob now has the birth right, but one thing he is missing is the blessing. The blessing is the passing of God’s favor and covenant. The birthright is incomplete with out the blessing. Jacob’s dad is getting old and is ready to give Esau, Jacob’s older brother, the blessing. Jacob’s mom over hears and tries to set Jacob up to get it.
Genesis 27:5 So Jacob went out and got the young goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it. 15 Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which were there in the house, and gave them to her younger son, Jacob. 16 She covered his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skin of the young goats. 17 Then she gave Jacob the delicious meal, including freshly baked bread.
18 So Jacob took the food to his father. “My father?” he said.
“Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are you—Esau or Jacob?”
19 Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son. I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing.”
Jacob wanted power and influence and pursued it at the cost of his character. All of us are pursuing labels. Some might be pursuing the image of success, other are pursing “not single”, others are pursuing an online image. Many of these labels cause us to do what Jacob did. Jacob pretended to be someone he was not. God cannot bless who you are pretending to be!
So what labels are you pursuing? Be honest and write them down. Are they the labels God want for you? Ask Him what labels he wants you to pursue? Pursue them with all your heart!
Recklessly, obsessively following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
