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 Psalm 126:3 The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.Some Christians are sadly prone to look on the dark side of everything, and to dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon what God has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian life, and they will describe their continual conflicts, their deep afflictions, their sad adversities, and the sinfulness of their hearts, yet with scarcely any allusion to the mercy and help which God has vouchsafed them. But a Christian whose soul is in a healthy state, will come forward joyously, and say, "I will speak, not about myself, but to the honor of my God. He hath brought me up out of an horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings: and he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. The Lord hath done great things for me, whereof I am glad." Such an abstract of experience as this is the very best that any child of God can present. It is true that we endure trials, but it is just as true that we are delivered out of them. It is true that we have our corruptions, and mournfully do we know this, but it is quite as true that we have an all-sufficient Saviour, who overcomes these corruptions, and delivers us from their dominion. In looking back, it would be wrong to deny that we have been in the Slough of Despond, and have crept along the Valley of Humiliation, but it would be equally wicked to forget that we have been through them safely and profitably; we have not remained in them, thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader, who has brought us "out into a wealthy place." The deeper our troubles, the louder our thanks to God, who has led us through all, and preserved us until now. Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we reckon them to be the bass part of our life's song, "He hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." Daily Light on the Daily Path John 7:46 The officers answered, "Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks."Psalm 45:2 You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever. Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. Luke 4:22 And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?" Matthew 7:29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Ephesians 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. • We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 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. |
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