Bible League: Living His Word “These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt.”— Acts 7:9-10 NLT Joseph was well thought of by his father Jacob, and so his father showed him favor in various ways. This did not sit well with his brothers – the “patriarchs” of our verse for today. In order to get rid of him, they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph served his master well, but he was unjustly thrown into prison anyway. Judging solely on the basis of what happened to him, you might think that God was against Joseph. You might even think that God had forsaken him. Our verse for today, however, says just the opposite. It says that “God was with him.” Further, it says that God “rescued him from all his troubles,” and “God gave him favor before Pharaoh.” Despite what you might think, God was working in Joseph’s life even when he was having trouble. In the same way, judging solely on the basis of some things that have happened, you might think that God is against you. You might even think that God has forsaken you. What was true for Joseph, however, is true for you. Despite everything that has happened, God is with you. “He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6b). Additionally, God is not simply with you, He is also working to rescue you from all your troubles. He not only sees to your welfare while you’re in the midst of them, He also works to rescue you from them. “I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him” (Psalm 91:14-15). Lastly, God is not just with you, He is not just working to rescue you, He is also giving you favor with the people who are in a position to bless you. “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor” (Psalm 84:11 ESV). Therefore, being reminded of all this, don’t be quick to think that God is against you or that He has forsaken you when things are tough. Don’t descend into that kind of negative thinking, for God is with you – just like He was for Joseph. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 29, 30, 31 2 Chronicles 29 -- Hezekiah's Good Reign; Temple Worship Restored NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 30 -- Hezekiah Invites All Israel to the Passover NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 31 -- Idolatry Destroyed; Contributions for Worship NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 18:1-23 John 18 -- Judas Betrays Jesus; Peter Denies Him; Jesus Questioned by Annas and Pilate NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or ‘Stand up and walk'? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”Insight It's easy to tell someone his sins are forgiven; it's a lot more difficult to reverse a case of paralysis! Jesus backed up his words by healing the man's legs. Jesus' action showed that his words were true; he had the power to forgive as well as to heal. Talk is cheap, but our words lack meaning if our actions do not back them up. Challenge We can say we love God or others, but if we are not taking practical steps to demonstrate that love, our words are empty and meaningless. How well do your actions back up what you say? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 5:39 Search the Scriptures.The Greek word here rendered search signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search, such as men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters when they are in earnest after game. We must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning of the word. Holy Scripture requires searching--much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for strong men. The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word, yea, upon every tittle of Scripture. Tertullian exclaims, "I adore the fulness of the Scriptures." No man who merely skims the book of God can profit thereby; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hid treasure. The door of the word only opens to the key of diligence. The Scriptures claim searching. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and imprimatur--who shall dare to treat them with levity? He who despises them despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should leave our Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great day of account. The word of God will repay searching. God does not bid us sift a mountain of chaff with here and there a grain of wheat in it, but the Bible is winnowed corn--we have but to open the granary door and find it. Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows with splendour of revelation, like a vast temple paved with wrought gold, and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems. No merchandise is like the merchandise of Scripture truth. Lastly, the Scriptures reveal Jesus: "They are they which testify of me." No more powerful motive can be urged upon Bible readers than this: he who finds Jesus finds life, heaven, all things. Happy he who, searching his Bible, discovers his Saviour. Daily Light on the Daily Path Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." Luke 22:53 "While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours." Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, Colossians 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. 1 Peter 5:8,9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. • But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Psalm 37:12,13 The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth. • The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming. Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Revelation 20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |