Devotional Thought

If I ask you who a fornicator is, I am sure you will say a fornicator is a person that engages in a sexual relationship outside or before marriage, and you are correct. But it is more than what you think. Today in our text, a person with no record of sexual sins is called a fornicator.

It is written, “Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16. Esau is called a fornicator because he sold his birthright for a morsel of food. This suggests that a fornicator is not only someone that engages in sexual sins. Someone who rates his appetite higher than his destiny is also a fornicator.

When Esau returned hungrily and saw his brother’s food, he could not control himself. When his birthright was asked as a price to secure the food, he was ready to sacrifice his purpose for a plate of food. A fornicator considers today’s pleasure more valuable than tomorrow’s treasure. He celebrates temporary enjoyment over eternal blessing.

Men Who Celebrate Purpose Above Pleasure

Esau is not like Moses, who chose to suffer with God’s people instead of enjoying the passing pleasures of sin. He was unlike Joseph, who opted for nakedness and imprisonment to secure his dream and destiny. He was not like Jesus Christ, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When pleasure and purpose are presented before a fornicator, he goes for fun and ignores the purpose. In God’s sight, those who celebrate everything except God’s purpose for their lives are as guilty of fornication as those involved in sexual sins.

Though there is an inheritance prepared for the righteous, if he embraces the lifestyle of Esau, he may end up losing it, just like Esau did. Esau found no place for repentance, but today there is hope for a fornicator if he repents because of Christ’s sacrifice.

Let’s Talk About It:

What step will you take this weekend to correct your attitude toward God’s purpose for your life?

Prayer Starter:

Father, I reject the spirit of Esau in my life and my family in Jesus’ name.