Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

June 26,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
 
Drawing on the Grace of God- Now

We . . . plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain -2 Corinthians 6:1

The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed. ". . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses"- that is where our patience is tested ( 2 Corinthians 6:4 ). Are you failing to rely on the grace of God there? Are you saying to yourself, "Oh well, I won't count this time"? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you- it is taking the grace of God now. We tend to make prayer the preparation for our service, yet it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don't say, "I will endure this until I can get away and pray." Pray now - draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God's grace through prayer.

". . . in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors . . ." ( 2 Corinthians 6:5 )- in all these things, display in your life a drawing on the grace of God, which will show evidence to yourself and to others that you are a miracle of His. Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be totally humiliated before others without displaying even the slightest trace of anything but His grace.

". . . having nothing . . . ." Never hold anything in reserve. Pour yourself out, giving the best that you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful with the treasure God gives you. ". . . and yet possessing all things"- this is poverty triumphant ( 2 Corinthians 6:10  ).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
True Faith

James 2:14-20 tells us the substance of true faith,

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works."  Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  You believe that there is one God.  You do well.  Even the demons believe-and tremble!  But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

My favorite translation of this last verse is, "Faith without actions that correspond is dead."  Faith must have actions that correspond with it.

You can talk about catching fish, about what lures you are going to use, and how you are going to cook them after you catch them, but if you never throw a line in the water, you are not going to catch a fish.

Or it's like the golfer who comes to a 3-par hole with a lake right in front of the green and says, "No problem, I can hit that green with my six iron."  Then he digs out an old ratty golf ball.  If he truly believes he can hit the green, he will hit his brand new $3 golf ball!

For faith to be genuine, it has to have corresponding actions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Ezekiel 40-41; Ezekiel 40:1-4
I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness. - Psalm 138:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
Legos, the interlocking plastic building blocks with which kids (and adults!) can build nearly anything they can imagine, celebrated their 50th anniversary two years ago. Over 400 billion Legos have been sold worldwide. The term Lego originated from the Danish words leg and godt, meaning "play well." Legos are now made in 2,400 different shapes and the product line includes building kits, games, movies, books, amusement parks, and children's shoes. Lego pieces have been used to recreate the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, and St. Paul's Cathedral in London. There is even a Brick Testament Web site and book series featuring more than 3,600 Lego illustrations of 400 Bible stories.
Ezekiel's vision of a new temple seems to be a future building project-no temple matching the measurements given in chapters 40 and following has yet been built. Commentators are divided over whether it will be built during the end times or if perhaps this temple is symbolic or allegorical (like so many other pictures in Ezekiel).

In any case, the temple was hugely significant for Israel because it represented the covenant and God's presence with His people. It was the center of national worship. It represented His love and faithfulness and reminded them of their responsibilities to obey and walk with Him. It pointed back to a golden age under the kingships of David and Solomon. Even though the people had pursued false idols and defiled the temple, they were still devastated when the Babylonians destroyed it.

Because Ezekiel had never had the privilege of serving in the original temple, this must have been a thrilling vision for him. While a prophet and in exile, he remained a priest. Even in the vision, he was not allowed into the Most Holy Place (41:3-4). But to receive and share from God a picture of this new temple was surely a deeply fulfilling ministry.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the ways in which God's presence with His people is symbolized today is through the Lord's Supper. Churches celebrate it to obey Christ's command, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:14-20). The Lord's Supper reminds us that the Resurrected One lives in our hearts and calls us to worship and obedience. We are also called to share this good news: "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Cor. 11:23-29).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

June 27,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Overshadowing of God's Personal Deliverance
. . . I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord -Jeremiah 1:8

God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally- ". . . your life shall be as a prize to you . . ." (Jeremiah 39:18  ). That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache, and distress. Having the proper outlook is evidence of the deeply rooted belief in the overshadowing of God's personal deliverance.

The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, "Don't worry about whether or not you are being treated justly." Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, "Why should I be treated like this?" If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust. In essence, Jesus says, "Continue steadily on with what I have told you to do, and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance." Even the most devout among us become atheistic in this regard- we do not believe Him. We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God's name to it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts (see Proverbs 3:5-6  ).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You Can't Out-Give God

Tucked away in the pages of the New Testament is a very powerful promise to those who are generous givers.  It is found in Philippians 4:18-19,

Indeed I have all and abound.  I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The Philippian church had made the financial support of the apostle Paul a priority.  In these verses Paul acknowledges their generosity and also states a vital principle for every believer to grasp...you can't out-give God!       

Not too long ago I came across a letter from a lady who had sacrificially given to the work of God.  Here is what she said in her letter:

"My husband and I were in dire straits.  He is a Vietnam War veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange.  Due to his benefit claims being denied and his being unemployed for three years, we lost nearly everything.  We had to put our home up for sale, but nothing was happening.  During this time, I gave every penny I could get my hands on and always prayed.  So one miracle after another began to take place.  First, we were able to move into my husband's deceased mother's home.  Then we signed papers for the sale of our former home.  Next, my husband's claim for benefits was approved and awarded, and the award was backdated three years.  Then he found a job!  Our income has tripled, and God continues to do miraculous things for us."

My friend, become a generous giver today.  Because you can't out-give God!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Ezekiel 42-43; Ezekiel 43:1-9
The glory of the LORD filled the temple. - Ezekiel 43:5

TODAY IN THE WORD
Last fall, the newly built U.S.S. New York, a Navy assault ship, sailed into New York harbor. What made her visit extra special was a bow built from 7.5 tons of steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. Firefighters and relatives of those who died on 9/11 watched the arrival of the ship, which delivered a 21-gun salute to honor those who died on that tragic day. The ship's crest design shows a phoenix rising from between the twin towers with the motto, "Never Forget."
For the Jewish exiles listening to Ezekiel's description of a new temple, the point was also "Never Forget." To remember how the glory of God once dwelt in Jerusalem but departed due to their sin was painful. It had been 19 years since Ezekiel delivered that word from the Lord (Ezekiel 10, see June 7). The fact that the original temple was destroyed was likewise a crushing realization. The prophet's vision, however, encouraged the people that God had not forgotten them and that His glory would return one day.

Chapter 42 describes the rooms for the priests in this new temple, highlighting the purity and holiness of the place, the people, and their activities. We also see here a stark contrast with the evil found in the rooms of the temple earlier in the book (Ezekiel 8, see June 6).

In chapter 43, Ezekiel's vision comes to a climax when the glory of the Lord enters the new temple. As before, the prophet fell facedown in awe and reverence, and was lifted to his feet by the Holy Spirit (43:1-5). Then God spoke and once again promised an eternal covenant relationship with Israel. This included a promise to keep the nation holy for His name's sake-there would be no more cycles of rebellion and idolatry. The people would turn away from all that, and God Himself would keep them righteous (43:7-9). The dedication ceremonies for the new temple symbolize a complete change of heart and a reconsecration to walking in the ways of the Lord (43:10-11).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16). In light of what we've learned in Ezekiel, it's clear that Paul employed an incredibly powerful metaphor when he compared our bodies with the temple-a place of purity, a place of worship, a place where God's glory dwells. No wonder the apostle admonished us: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

[Judy Harder]

June 28,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
 
Held by the Grip of God

I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me -Philippians 3:12

Never choose to be a worker for God, but once God has placed His call on you, woe be to you if you "turn aside to the right hand or to the left" ( Deuteronomy 5:32  ). We are not here to work for God because we have chosen to do so, but because God has "laid hold of" us. And once He has done so, we never have this thought, "Well, I'm really not suited for this." What you are to preach is also determined by God, not by your own natural leanings or desires. Keep your soul steadfastly related to God, and remember that you are called not simply to convey your testimony but also to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify to the truth of God, but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of God's hand on you- your life is in the grip of God for that very purpose. How many of us are held like that?

Never water down the Word of God, but preach it in its undiluted sternness. There must be unflinching faithfulness to the Word of God, but when you come to personal dealings with others, remember who you are- you are not some special being created in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do. . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" ( Philippians 3:13-14  ).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Priority of Purity

We live in a highly sexualized society.  It is amazing the number of people, even pastors, who fall to sexual temptation.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 we are told straight out,

For this is the will of God, your sanctification:  that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.

God expects for you and me to live in sexual purity.  You need to know how to possess your body in sanctification and honor; otherwise your body will possess you.

God has created a strong sexual drive that is an awesome blessing in marriage!  But, you know, it is so strong that sometimes it just wants to flow out of the banks and go somewhere it shouldn't go.

We must learn how to possess our bodies in sanctification and honor, and live morally pure lives that bring pleasure to God.  Here are three practical ways:

Avoid temptation.  2 Timothy 2:22 says, Flee youthful lusts.  Avoid the very scenes of temptation.  Stay away when you know you might get in trouble.
Feed your spirit, not your flesh.  In Romans, we are told of the great war every Christian experiences, the war between our spirit and our flesh.  Whatever you feed is going to be stronger, so make sure to feed your spirit.
Rely on the Holy Spirit and His power.  If you will acknowledge Him and look to Him for strength, you will find He is a very present help in your time of need.
Make a commitment today to practice these three principles for purity.  If you do, you will live in the sexual purity God desires. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Ezekiel 44; Ezekiel 44:24-30
They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common. - Ezekiel 44:23

TODAY IN THE WORD
One day in 1938 a boy in Queensland, Australia, brought home a dull-colored stone he had found lying on a hillside. The family decided to use it for a doorstop, where it stayed for ten years. Then a jeweler recognized it for what it was, bought it, and polished it until it was revealed as the largest star sapphire in the world. Known as the Black Star of Queensland and now mounted on white gold with 35 diamonds around the star's rim, this 733-carat sapphire is considered to be one of the most beautiful gems in the world.
As breathtaking as such treasures are, they can't compare to the splendid glory of God! Ezekiel witnessed the glory of the Lord fill the new temple and he again fell facedown in worship. Because God's glory had passed through the eastern gate, that gate would be shut permanently-it was holy, not for common use. Disobedience that dishonored the covenant would no longer be tolerated, for example, bringing "foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh" into the sanctuary (vv. 7-9). Circumcision was a physical and spiritual symbol of membership in the community of faith.

The instructions for Levites and priests in this new order of worship likewise emphasize the necessity of pure hearts when coming into God's presence. Collectively, these passages fulfill an ancient promise: "The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live" (Deut. 30:6).

These instructions also stress the religious leaders' responsibility to teach the people "the difference between the holy and the common . . . the unclean and the clean" (v. 23). They should provide good examples and models of holy living. They should in all things act with scrupulous integrity and a commitment to righteousness. They would not be assigned a portion of land, because God Himself would be their inheritance (v. 28; cf. Deut. 18:1-2).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Just as the "temple" is no longer a building, but all believers (see yesterday's Today Along the Way), so also are "priests" no longer a select few, but all believers. All who have trusted Christ for salvation are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that [we] may declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). Each of us has a responsibility to cultivate righteousness and purity in every dimension of our lives.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

June 29,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
The Strictest Discipline

If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell -Matthew 5:30


Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off his right hand, but that "if your right hand causes you to sin" in your walk with Him, then it is better to "cut it off." There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them. Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but Jesus says that if it hinders you in following His precepts, then "cut it off." The principle taught here is the strictest discipline or lesson that ever hit humankind.

When God changes you through regeneration, giving you new life through spiritual rebirth, your life initially has the characteristic of being maimed. There are a hundred and one things that you dare not do- things that would be sin for you, and would be recognized as sin by those who really know you. But the unspiritual people around you will say, "What's so wrong with doing that? How absurd you are!" There has never yet been a saint who has not lived a maimed life initially. Yet it is better to enter into life maimed but lovely in God's sight than to appear lovely to man's eyes but lame to God's. At first, Jesus Christ through His Spirit has to restrain you from doing a great many things that may be perfectly right for everyone else but not right for you. Yet, see that you don't use your restrictions to criticize someone else.

The Christian life is a maimed life initially, but inMatthew 5:48 Jesus gave us the picture of a perfectly well-rounded life- "You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Importance of Revival

Psalm 85:6 asks a powerful question,

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

Notice that the psalmist says, "again."  This tells me that the nation of Israel was once in a state of revival, but that had waned, it had declined, and they had come again to the place where they needed to be revived.

Perhaps today you are in a place where you need to be revived.

Revival has been described as the inrush of the Spirit into the body that threatens to become a corpse.  That is a good definition.  Something needs to be revived when it is dying or when it has lost its strength or momentum.

Revival brings new life.  It brings fresh vigor.  It brings renewed momentum to that which is in a weakened or dying state.

In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul writes to Timothy, Stir up the gift of God which is in you. The word for stir up literally means to rekindle.  In other words, a fire was there at one time, but it has begun to burn low.  And now it needs to be refueled and tended to.

The Amplified Bible says, Rekindle the embers, fan the flame and keep burning the gracious gift of God, the inner fire.

Maybe you have felt spiritually flat lately.  Maybe the fire that once burned white hot for God is now just a glowing ember.  If so, it is time to rekindle those embers and fan to flame what He has put within you. 

As God goes to work in your life, you will find that once again your life will be filled with purpose, and you will once again rejoice in God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Ezekiel 45-46; Ezekiel 46:1-8
The people of the land are to worship in the presence of the LORD. - Ezekiel 46:3


TODAY IN THE WORD
Basement kitchens are found in many churches across America. On the counter sits a pair of well-used coffee urns. A few washed casserole dishes from last month's potluck dinner lie unclaimed a few feet away. A handmade sign on the cupboard asks visitors not to eat the Cheerios and Goldfish crackers needed for Sunday school and nursery snacks. The trash can is filled with soda bottles and pizza boxes from a youth group meeting.
Church basement kitchens are cousins to the temple kitchen areas in today's reading (46:19-24). Following the account of the new temple, Ezekiel narrated a new division of the promised land. The list of what does and does not belong to the ruler is a warning not to repeat the exploitation and injustice that led to God's judgment. Leaders are instructed to protect the property rights of all citizens and reminded that in truth the land belongs to the Lord, as seen in the Year of Jubilee (46:16-18).

The bulk of this passage deals with offerings and holy days (45:13-46:24). The reasons behind the sacrifices are much the same as in the Mosaic Law-worship, purification, atonement, and gratitude-but the specifics vary in so many details that an entirely different time period seems to be in view. In addition, some sacrifices and holy days are not mentioned. It's possible that these instructions are actually symbols and allegories. As with understanding the new temple, commentators differ as to whether the prophecy will be literally fulfilled during the end times or whether it speaks primarily to spiritual principles and meanings.

Might it be both? Take the kitchens, for example. They may very well actually be built one day as part of a new temple complex during the end times. Even now, though, at a spiritual level they speak to the reality that fellowship is an important part of worship. They remind us that within the community of faith, social and spiritual interactions merge with one another. A shared meal can bring glory to God!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It is often a good idea to seek out additional Scripture passages to help illuminate or give background to a biblical text under consideration. For instance, studying the sacrifices in Ezekiel 45 and 46 would correlate very well with a review of the sacrifices in the Mosaic Law (Lev. 1-7). For another example, the centrality of the temple within the book of Ezekiel might send an eager inquirer to such passages as Solomon's dedication of the original temple (1 Kings .

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

June 30,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Do It Now!

Agree with your adversary quickly . . . -Matthew 5:25

In this verse, Jesus Christ laid down a very important principle by saying, "Do what you know you must do- now. Do it quickly. If you don't, an inevitable process will begin to work 'till you have paid the last penny' ( Matthew 5:26  ) in pain, agony, and distress." God's laws are unchangeable and there is no escape from them. The teachings of Jesus always penetrate right to the heart of our being.

Wanting to make sure that my adversary gives me all my rights is a natural thing. But Jesus says that it is a matter of inescapable and eternal importance to me that I pay my adversary what I owe him. From our Lord's standpoint it doesn't matter whether I am cheated or not, but what does matter is that I don't cheat someone else. Am I insisting on having my own rights, or am I paying what I owe from Jesus Christ's standpoint?

Do it quickly- bring yourself to judgment now. In moral and spiritual matters, you must act immediately. If you don't, the inevitable, relentless process will begin to work. God is determined to have His child as pure, clean, and white as driven snow, and as long as there is disobedience in any point of His teaching, He will allow His Spirit to use whatever process it may take to bring us to obedience. The fact that we insist on proving that we are right is almost always a clear indication that we have some point of disobedience. No wonder the Spirit of God so strongly urges us to stay steadfastly in the light! (see John 3:19-21  ).

"Agree with your adversary quickly . . . ." Have you suddenly reached a certain place in your relationship with someone, only to find that you have anger in your heart? Confess it quickly- make it right before God. Be reconciled to that person- do it now!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vital Sign of Joy

In yesterday's devotional, I challenged you to consider whether God needs to do a work in your life to revive you spiritually.  Perhaps you feel it, but you just don't know what it is.         

Over the next few days, I want to point you to the vital signs that may indicate the need for spiritual revival in your life.  The first one we find in Psalm 85.  It is lack of joy.   Look at the language in verse 6,

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

When a person is sullen and depressed spiritually, cheerless and despondent, it is a sure sign that they need revival.

You might say, "Well, you know, if my circumstances would just change, then I would rejoice."  No.  Joy is not dependent upon your circumstances.  In fact, let me give you a great example.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2 states,

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:  that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

Notice this language.  The Macedonians were not in a little trial.  They were in a "great trial of affliction."  They were experiencing deep poverty, tremendous lack in their life, and yet they had abundant joy.

What was their secret?  Living in the grace of God.

More than anything else, joy is dependent upon understanding the grace of God, knowing that God's grace is at work even in your affliction. 

If you are joyless today, ask the Spirit of God to fill your heart.  If you do, there will be a joy regardless of what you are facing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Ezekiel 47-48; Ezekiel 47:1-12
And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there. - Ezekiel 48:35


TODAY IN THE WORD
Bill Foege, a pioneer in global health, has saved millions of lives. He started working in Nigeria to vaccinate people against smallpox and contributed much to the eradication of the disease. He later headed up a task force working to improve immunization rates for the world's children, raising the rate from only five percent in 1978 to 80 percent by 1990. Later, he persuaded a major pharmaceutical company to donate drugs to help end river blindness in Africa. Inspired by the life of Albert Schweitzer and a missionary uncle who served in Papua New Guinea, Foege works today with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, continuing to formulate strategies to improve health conditions worldwide.
God is the ultimate giver and saver of life, as seen in Ezekiel's vision of the river of life flowing from His throne (47:1-12). This recurring image in prophecy can also be found in Revelation 22:1-2. In those verses, the "river of the water of life" flows from God's throne and is lined by trees, the leaves of which bring healing to the nations, exactly as seen in Ezekiel. The water's main properties are that it heals and gives life, suggesting a renewal of the physical creation as well as spiritual vitality. Christ Himself is the Living Water: "Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:7-14).

Following a description of the new boundaries of the promised land and new divisions of it among the twelve tribes of Israel, the book of Ezekiel draws to a close (48:30-35; cf. Rev. 21:1-7). The new Jerusalem will be renamed, "THE LORD IS THERE." His presence and worship of Him will define this place and time in unprecedented ways. All through the book we have heard the refrain that God does what He does in order that "they will know that I am the LORD." Here at last is the place where our thirst for God will be quenched (Psalm 84)!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's reading brings us full circle of our study this month. The transcendent and sovereign God we encountered in Ezekiel 1 is the same God who keeps promises made long ago to Abraham and Moses. The wrathful God who wielded the sword of justice is the same God who dwells with His people as friend and King. The holy God whose glory departed from the city is the same God who names the city to affirm His eternal presence with His people.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

 
Daily Devotional

July 01,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Inevitable Penalty

You will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny -Matthew 5:26

There is no heaven that has a little corner of hell in it. God is determined to make you pure, holy, and right, and He will not allow you to escape from the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit for even one moment. He urged you to come to judgment immediately when He convicted you, but you did not obey. Then the inevitable process began to work, bringing its inevitable penalty. Now you have been "thrown into prison, [and] . . . you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny" ( 5:25-26 ). Yet you ask, "Is this a God of mercy and love?" When seen from God's perspective, it is a glorious ministry of love. God is going to bring you out pure, spotless, and undefiled, but He wants you to recognize the nature you were exhibiting- the nature of demanding your right to yourself. The moment you are willing for God to change your nature, His recreating forces will begin to work. And the moment you realize that God's purpose is to get you into the right relationship with Himself and then with others, He will reach to the very limits of the universe to help you take the right road. Decide to do it right now, saying, "Yes, Lord, I will write that letter," or, "I will be reconciled to that person now."

These sermons of Jesus Christ are meant for your will and your conscience, not for your head. If you dispute these verses from the Sermon on the Mount with your head, you will dull the appeal to your heart.

If you find yourself asking, "I wonder why I'm not growing spiritually with God?"- then ask yourself if you are paying your debts from God's standpoint. Do now what you will have to do someday. Every moral question or call comes with an "ought" behind it- the knowledge of knowing what we ought to do.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vital Sign of Prayer

One of the truest indicators of whether an individual's spiritual life is progressing or declining is prayer.  And if your prayer life is declining, it is a sure sign your spiritual life is in need of reviving. 

Psalm 80:18 puts it this way,

Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name.

Prayer is to the spiritual life what breathing is to the physical life.  If your breathing is shallow and intermittent, something is wrong.  It is a sign that there is a lack of health.  If your breathing is deep and regular, it is a sign of health.

I once read a story about a World War II soldier who was called in before his commanding officer and accused of spying.  The officer said, "You have been seen slipping off into a wooded area where we know enemy patrols have been seen, and we think you're passing information to them." 

The commanding officer demanded, "Why did you go there?" and the soldier said, "I just slipped away for a quiet hour of prayer."  The officer then commanded him to get on his knees and show him how he prayed.

So the soldier hit his knees, thinking he was likely to get executed for treason, and began to cry out to God.  Immediately it was evident that he had an intimacy with God.  The commanding officer stopped him and said, "That's enough.  You can go."  He turned to another officer and said, "No one could pray like that without a long apprenticeship."

Where are you when it comes to prayer?  Is it deep and regular?  Or is it shallow, sporadic, and intermittent?  If it is shallow, it is a sign that your heart needs to be revived.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Psalm 10:1-18
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? - Psalm 118:6

TODAY IN THE WORD
We don't have to look far to find accounts of injustice. In just one week we might hear news stories about a local politician who has accepted bribes in exchange for government contracts, investment bankers who profited from the economic calamity of their own clients, and young women trafficked into sexual slavery around the world. Despair might be an understandable response. So much is wrong in the world; who can make it right? Psalm 10 was written thousands of years ago, but it remains relevant today as a depiction of injustice in the world, our response, and God's character.
The psalm paints a vivid picture of the perpetrator (vv. 2-11). More than a dozen verbs communicate that the wicked person actively pursues the demise of the helpless: he premeditates violence and boasts about triumph; he considers himself untouchable and disdains God. He is portrayed as a poacher: he "hunts" and "lies in wait" to "ambush," then he "catches" his victims in his "net" (vv. 2, 8-9). The evil person denies God's authority. He lives lawlessly as if he is in control and God is disinterested or even absent.

In contrast, the psalmist petitions God to respond according to His character. He invokes God's covenant name, LORD, which calls for God to be faithful to His promises (v. 12). The word hand in the ancient world symbolized authority, power, and divine presence. "Lift up your hand" entreats God to punish the wicked and to help the helpless.

Psalm 10 affirms that God does see and respond to trouble and grief; God helps those who cannot help themselves (v. 14). Our God hears the cries of the afflicted, He defends the defenseless, and He encourages the oppressed (vv. 17-18). God is not only the compassionate defender of the weak; He is also the eternal King of all kings. We can have confidence that God is a righteous judge who calls the wicked to account for his deeds (v. 15). God protects the weak and abolishes injustice; He replaces terror with His peace.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In our world full of hatred, violence, and sins against the weak and powerless, Psalm 10 tells us who God is and how He responds to evil. Perhaps there is particular wickedness that weighs on your heart. Maybe you are overwhelmed by the general state of the world today. Let us begin this month in prayer, adopting the words and frame of reference of Psalm 10. Cry out to God on behalf of the helpless; bring the wicked before His throne for judgment; declare who God is; pray for His justice and peace.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 02,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
The Conditions of Discipleship
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also . . . . And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me . . . . So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple -Luke 14:26-27, 33


If the closest relationships of a disciple's life conflict with the claims of Jesus Christ, then our Lord requires instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person- our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause- He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted bondservant motivated by love for the Lord Jesus. Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not truly devoted to Jesus Christ. No one on earth has this passionate love for the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Spirit has given it to him. We may admire, respect, and revere Him, but we cannot love Him on our own. The only One who truly loves the Lord Jesus is the Holy Spirit, and it is He who has "poured out in our hearts" the very "love of God" (Romans 5:5  ). Whenever the Holy Spirit sees an opportunity to glorify Jesus through you, He will take your entire being and set you ablaze with glowing devotion to Jesus Christ.

The Christian life is a life characterized by true and spontaneous creativity. Consequently, a disciple is subject to the same charge that was leveled against Jesus Christ, namely, the charge of inconsistency. But Jesus Christ was always consistent in His relationship to God, and a Christian must be consistent in his relationship to the life of the Son of God in him, not consistent to strict, unyielding doctrines. People pour themselves into their own doctrines, and God has to blast them out of their preconceived ideas before they can become devoted to Jesus Christ.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vital Sign of Hunger for God's Word

It is not unusual for someone who becomes physically sick to lose their appetite.  In fact, when a person is deathly ill, the doctor will often pull loved ones aside and say, "Try to get them to eat something.  If they're going to recover, they have to eat."

The same is true when someone is sick spiritually.  They lose their appetite for spiritual things.  They lose their appetite for the Word of God.  In fact, when you see a believer who has lost his or her hunger for God's Word, it is a sure sign that person needs to be revived.

At least three times in Psalm 119, the psalmist tells us that one of the ways God will revive you when you are spiritually weak is through His Word.

In verse 25 he says,

My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.

In verse 107 he says,

I am afflicted very much; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.

And then in verse 154 he says it again,

Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.

If you are going to be revived, it will be in large part according to or through the Word of God.  In fact, what the psalmist is literally saying is, "Give me life.  Revive me through Your Word."  The more you feed on God's Word, the more you hunger for it.

So a critical vital sign of the spiritual life is a hunger, an appetite, for God's Word.  There is a renewed hunger for spiritual truth when you are revived.  As you feed upon His Word, it will give you more life, it will give you more strength, and it will give you spiritual vitality.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Psalm 68:1-19
Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. - Psalm 96:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, the spell of the White Witch has made it always winter in the land of Narnia but never Christmas. When the curse is broken, the effects of the long winter are reversed: the icy river thaws, trees blossom, and the snow melts to reveal the lush landscape. The signs of spring are the dawn of new life and change. They are also the result of Aslan's return and foreshadow his redemption. We find similar signs of restoration in today's reading.
Psalm 68 is a memoir of the journey of God's people from Sinai to Jerusalem. From Egypt and throughout the wilderness wandering, God guided and sustained His people. From out of the wasteland, God led His people into the Promised Land; His enemies were scattered (v. 1) and kings and armies fled in haste (v. 12). Then He established His throne and dwelling place in Jerusalem (vv. 16, 29).

Paramount to Psalm 68 is the revelation of God's character and conduct along the journey (vv. 1-7). The psalmist employs four distinct names of God that accentuate specific aspects of who He is. The most frequent is "God" or Elohim in the original Hebrew language, a common name for God. Adonai appears as "Lord" in English and emphasizes God as master (vv. 11, 17, 19). "The LORD" symbolizes God's covenant faithfulness to His people (vv. 4, 16, 18; cf. Ex. 3:13-14). Finally, Shaddai is "Almighty" and highlights God's power and strength (v. 14).

Also notice the descriptions of God's actions in Psalm 68 (vv. 5-6). God advocates for vulnerable people. In all four illustrations, God reverses the plight of the people. God fathers the orphans; He protects the defenseless widow; He restores people once isolated to community; and He frees captives. Along the journey, God has demonstrated who He is: Almighty God, Eternal King, Father, Savior, and Renovator. Psalm 68 ends with a call to worship grounded in the assurance that God daily bears our burdens (v. 19).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Tucked within Psalm 68 is a picture of how the righteous, those who love God and follow Him, respond to God's character: gladness, joy, and praise (vv. 3-4). They glorify Him for who He is. Identify a characteristic of God from our passage that is meaningful to you. Perhaps you have experienced His fatherly care or protection in the past, or maybe you desire to see His restoration or kingly rule. Today worship God for who He is: acknowledge His character and praise Him for His deeds.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 03,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Concentration of Personal Sin
Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips . . . -Isaiah 6:5

When I come into the very presence of God, I do not realize that I am a sinner in an indefinite sense, but I suddenly realize and the focus of my attention is directed toward the concentration of sin in a particular area of my life. A person will easily say, "Oh yes, I know I am a sinner," but when he comes into the presence of God he cannot get away with such a broad and indefinite statement. Our conviction is focused on our specific sin, and we realize, as Isaiah did, what we really are. This is always the sign that a person is in the presence of God. There is never any vague sense of sin, but a focusing on the concentration of sin in some specific, personal area of life. God begins by convicting us of the very thing to which His Spirit has directed our mind's attention. If we will surrender, submitting to His conviction of that particular sin, He will lead us down to where He can reveal the vast underlying nature of sin. That is the way God always deals with us when we are consciously aware of His presence.

This experience of our attention being directed to our concentration of personal sin is true in everyone's life, from the greatest of saints to the worst of sinners. When a person first begins climbing the ladder of experience, he might say, "I don't know where I've gone wrong," but the Spirit of God will point out some definite and specific thing to him. The effect of Isaiah's vision of the holiness of the Lord was the directing of his attention to the fact that he was "a man of unclean lips." "He touched my mouth with it, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged' " ( Isaiah 6:7  ). The cleansing fire had to be applied where the sin had been concentrated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Vital Sign of Passion to Reach the Lost

One of the major signs that someone needs to be revived is a lack of concern for the lost.  In David's psalm of repentance, Psalm 51:10-13, he says,

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

When David says, Renew a steadfast spirit in me...Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, he is saying, "God, revive me, restore me, renew me."  One of the fruits we find in a heart that has been revived is a desire to see others converted.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

When a person's spiritual life wanes, there is very little thought and very little action aimed at reaching the lost.  Yet, someone who has been revived and is spiritually healthy will be actively engaged in the evangelization of the lost.

Read carefully these words from Elton Trueblood, a Quaker scholar.  He said, "Evangelism occurs when Christians are so ignited by their contact with Christ that they in turn set other fires.  It is easy to determine when something is aflame.  It ignites other material.  Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out."

When you are spiritually revived, you will think about the spiritual state of the people that you rub shoulders with every day.  It is inevitable that when your heart is revived and close to God, you will have a concern for the lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Psalm 146:1-10
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. - Psalm 20:7

TODAY IN THE WORD
"Worship Lyrics and the Hidden Narcissism" is the title of a worship pastor's blog post from 2009. He noted that the lyrics of many modern praise choruses are self-centered, and after a conference for worship leaders, he lamented: "Each song seemed to define God according to our experience of Him," rather than the other way around. We need to evaluate lyrics for subtle narcissism, "which places us at the center of the worship experience instead of God." The pastor then encouraged his readers to be thoughtful about how lyrics reflect God's Word. Some of the best examples of God-centered expressions of worship come from Scripture, especially the book of Psalms.
Psalm 146 is a wonderful example of a song grounded in the acknowledgment of who God is. The entire Psalm is bracketed with praise (vv. 1-2, 10). The psalmist clarifies that worship emanates from one's inner being and continues for a lifetime. Verses three through six contrast the person who places his security in humans with the one who trusts God for help and hope-this one is called "blessed." "Mortal men" diminish compared to the eternal and faithful Creator (v. 6).

The psalm resounds with ten proclamations of who God is and what He does (vv. 7-10). God advocates for the oppressed. In the original Hebrew, the first line of verse 7 reads: "the one who executes justice." The Lord feeds the hungry and releases the prisoners; He heals the blind and lifts up the humble. The Lord cares for the displaced and vulnerable people among us, like refugees, orphans, and widows. Notice the important contrast: God loves the righteous, but obstructs the plans of the wicked (v. 9).

Psalm 146 praises God as the eternal King (v. 10), and He is the faithful covenant keeper (v. 5) who can remain true to His promises for all generations. He is a God who not only cares about the oppressed, but also has the power to deliver from sin and to defeat the wicked. He is worthy of all our praise.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 04,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
One of God's Great "Don'ts"
 
Do not fret- it only causes harm -Psalm 37:8

Fretting means getting ourselves "out of joint" mentally or spiritually. It is one thing to say, "Do not fret," but something very different to have such a nature that you find yourself unable to fret. It's easy to say, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" ( Psalm 37:7  ) until our own little world is turned upside down and we are forced to live in confusion and agony like so many other people. Is it possible to "rest in the Lord" then? If this "Do not" doesn't work there, then it will not work anywhere. This "Do not" must work during our days of difficulty and uncertainty, as well as our peaceful days, or it will never work. And if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work for anyone else. Resting in the Lord is not dependent on your external circumstances at all, but on your relationship with God Himself.
Worrying always results in sin. We tend to think that a little anxiety and worry are simply an indication of how wise we really are, yet it is actually a much better indication of just how wicked we are. Fretting rises from our determination to have our own way. Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God's plans. Fretting is wickedness for a child of God.

Have you been propping up that foolish soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all your opinions and speculations aside and "abide under the shadow of the Almighty" ( Psalm 91:1  ). Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about whatever concerns you. All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without God.definite and specific thing to him. The effect of Isaiah's vision of the holiness of the Lord was the directing of his attention to the fact that he was "a man of unclean lips." "He touched my mouth with it, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged' " ( Isaiah 6:7  ). The cleansing fire had to be applied where the sin had been concentrated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Motive of Faith

When speaking of faith, it is critical to talk about the motive of our faith.  James 4:2-3 tells us what a wrong motive is,

You lust and do not have.  You murder and covet and cannot obtain.  You fight and war.  Yet you do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

God is very concerned about the "why" behind our prayers of faith.  He is very interested in the state of our hearts.  And I think it is good to check our motives from time to time.

Why do we want what we want?  Is it ego driven?  Am I asking for it because I want to impress someone?  Are my motives right?

Now, you don't have to overdo it.  You can overanalyze things to the point that you become spiritually frozen and don't do anything.  I think if you will get honest and lay your heart out before God, He will very quickly put the spotlight on the things that should not be there.

Our dog always stands at the back door and scratches on the glass like he really loves us and wants to come in and be with us.  But the moment you open the door he runs right by you into the kitchen looking for food. 

Why do you want the thing you want?  What is the purpose behind asking?  Is it for the glory of God?  Is it to help people?  Is there a pure motive there?

When your motive is right, God will not be long in answering.  But if your motive is not right, God won't answer until it gets right.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Psalm 7:1-17
Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail. - Zephaniah 3:5

TODAY IN THE WORD
The Old Testament was originally written in the Hebrew language, and the two words translated "justice" and "righteousness" often appear together. We often associate them with punishment for wrongdoing, but this doesn't capture the entirety of these biblical words. Righteousness and justice are also about "being right, doing right, and putting things right" relationally, socially, and politically. According to one Bible scholar, righteousness is about "God re-establishing right order in the fallen world." These words occur in today's passage as we continue contemplating God's character.
As seen before, God is our refuge, shield, savior, and deliverer (vv. 1, 10). The middle of Psalm 7 is saturated with words like "justice," "judge," "righteousness," and "righteous" (vv. 6-11), revealing more dimensions of who God is. He is both ruler and righteous judge; He decrees justice and expresses His wrath daily. Psalm 7 teaches that the LORD judges all people righteously according to the integrity of their minds, hearts, and actions (vv. 3-5, 8-10). The outcome includes eliminating the violence of the wicked and establishing the righteous (v. 9).

Psalm 7 emphasizes God's righteousness as the measure of evaluating our own righteousness (vv. 8, 9). God's people are to live in a way that exemplifies the justice and righteousness of God in their relationships with other people. For example, in verse 5, the psalmist says if I have treated another person unjustly, then let the victim be vindicated. Yet, the psalmist argues that he has acted with righteousness (v. . He beseeches God to confirm that he has imitated God's righteousness in his own relationships.

The fulcrum of Psalm 7 is the declaration of God as righteous judge (v. 11). The beginning of Psalm 7 affirms that precisely because God is not capricious or unjust, He is able to be a trusted shelter and redeemer (v. 1). The psalm ends with thanksgiving and praise in response to His righteous judgment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 7 is certainly turned outward-"let the LORD judge the peoples," but it is also turned inward-"judge me, O LORD" (v. . It is always easier to cite God's righteous judgment in reference to the sins of others; accepting God as our own righteous judge often proves uncomfortable. Today let us come before God in humble confession, inviting His Spirit to search our hearts for unrighteousness (Ps. 139:23-24). Then let's rejoice in the assurance of our pardon in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1-2).


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 05,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
 
Don't Plan Without God
 
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass -Psalm 37:5

Don't plan without God. God seems to have a delightful way of upsetting the plans we have made, when we have not taken Him into account. We get ourselves into circumstances that were not chosen by God, and suddenly we realize that we have been making our plans without Him- that we have not even considered Him to be a vital, living factor in the planning of our lives. And yet the only thing that will keep us from even the possibility of worrying is to bring God in as the greatest factor in all of our planning.

In spiritual issues it is customary for us to put God first, but we tend to think that it is inappropriate and unnecessary to put Him first in the practical, everyday issues of our lives. If we have the idea that we have to put on our "spiritual face" before we can come near to God, then we will never come near to Him. We must come as we are.

Don't plan with a concern for evil in mind. Does God really mean for us to plan without taking the evil around us into account? "Love . . . thinks no evil" ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-5  ). Love is not ignorant of the existence of evil, but it does not take it into account as a factor in planning. When we were apart from God, we did take evil into account, doing all of our planning with it in mind, and we tried to reason out all of our work from its standpoint.

Don't plan with a rainy day in mind. You cannot hoard things for a rainy day if you are truly trusting Christ. Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled . . ." (John 14:1 ). God will not keep your heart from being troubled. It is a command- "Let not. . . ." To do it, continually pick yourself up, even if you fall a hundred and one times a day, until you get into the habit of putting God first and planning with Him in mind.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Prayer of Faith

Over the last few devotionals, we have looked at faith-what true faith looks like, and the motive behind the faith that pleases God.   

In James 5:15 we are told,

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.  And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Clearly, James wants us to know that when we pray a prayer of faith, God will answer it.  In this passage, we are told that through that prayer God will indeed heal those who are sick, and raise them up.

So what is it that makes up the prayer of faith?  There are three components, all of which we have touched on in the last few days.

The prayer of faith is a prayer that:

Does not waver.  It doesn't vacillate, moving back and forth.  It is anchored on the promise of God.
Is followed by corresponding actions.
Is prayed from right motives.
The example James cites of someone who prayed a prayer of faith is Elijah.  I encourage you to read his story in 1 Kings 17.  There you find that, through the prayer of faith, God shut up the heavens and there was no rain.  And then, by another prayer of faith, the heavens were opened and rain came down.

Elijah expressed his faith when he said he heard the sound of abundance of rain.  He made that statement before there was a cloud in the sky or before a drop of rain ever fell!

When you and I don't waver in our faith, when we show our faith by corresponding action, and when we pray with right motives, God will act.  As surely as Elijah heard that rain by faith, you can hear the rain...whatever that represents in your life.  That is the prayer of faith.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Genesis 45:1-15; 50:14-21
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. - Genesis 50:20

TODAY IN THE WORD
Why are the innocent victimized? Where is God in the midst of evil and suffering? These questions arise when we consider the reality of injustice in our world. We began this month's study devoted to understanding God's character and work; He defends, cares for, and restores the vulnerable and marginalized, and He is righteous judge, king, creator, and redeemer. Now let's turn our attention to examples of God's character at work in the lives of people who faced suffering and injustice.
Joseph could be a poster child for a life fraught with injustice at every turn. As you read Joseph's story, notice parallels and repeated themes. Joseph is favored by his father, so his jealous brothers plot to kill him and sell him into slavery (Genesis 37). Joseph is favored by Potiphar, whose seductive wife falsely accuses Joseph and has him thrown into prison (Genesis 39). Joseph is favored by the prison warden and promoted to a position of authority (39:21-23). While in prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's servants, but misses his jailbreak opportunity when the cup-bearer forgets to vouch for him (Genesis 40). He remains in prison two more years (41:1)! Yet when he interprets Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph receives the promotion of a lifetime. As the predicted famine spreads, Joseph's brothers travel to Egypt to buy food. After several perplexing exchanges between Joseph and his brothers, several trips back and forth from Canaan to Egypt, Joseph finally reveals his true identity, initiates reconciliation with his family, and reunites with his father, Jacob (Genesis 43-46).

Beyond favoritism, promotion, deceit, and maltreatment, another essential thread runs through Joseph's biography. In the midst of suffering and injustice, God is with Joseph (39:2-3, 21, 23; 41:38-39), and Joseph recognized God's power, presence, and providence (39:5-9; 40:8; 41:16-28, 32; 45:5-7). "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (50:20).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God upheld Joseph's cause; He freed him from enslavement and prison and frustrated the plans of the wicked (Ps. 146:7-9). God even worked through Joseph's suffering to save many. When you experience pain or injustice, Christ is present with you, too. If you or someone you love is experiencing difficult circumstances, pray to know God's presence. Also, celebrate God's work to transform these circumstances from what the Evil One intends into something redemptive through Christ.

GOD BLESS!