Saturday, March 7, 2009

Today’s Passage: Genesis 43-44

The thought of repaying good for evil is difficult for anyone to do. In today’s passage, we see that Joseph was now in a position to where he could have very well taken all of his brother’s lives for any reason that he wanted. However, he spared his brothers and had forgiven them of the wrong they had done to him years earlier. It is one thing to forgive someone when they have wronged you, but it speaks even more when the extra mile is taken to help that person in their time of need.

When reading this passage, we learn the practical lesson of not repaying evil with more evil, but also taking a step back to see the larger picture, we can see God at work. There was a severe seven year famine that was hitting Egypt and God had purposefully placed Joseph in the position that he was in order to save the rest of Joseph’s family, of whom Benjamin was one of the brothers. I think it’s extremely difficult for us today to step back when someone has wronged us to attempt to see the bigger picture that God has in mind. For instance, maybe our kindness to the person who wronged us may lead them toward salvation.

I thought the story was rather interesting when Joseph tested his brothers. I mean, think with me for a moment. I was trying to think what was going on in Joseph’s mind when he was doing this. His brothers come from afar, not realizing who they were going to be asking food from. Then Joseph sends them out with an extra silver cup in their sacks, only to command one of his servants to track them down shortly after they left. It almost seemed that Joseph was trying to see whether or not his brothers had truly repented. We know that God was guiding Joseph, so we see here that he was being used by God to bring them to complete repentance. We see very clearly in the story when the servant who tracked them down and asked if they had it (the cup, all of the brothers said no. They said so in such confidence they went to the degree of saying that if found, the one who had it could be a servant of Joseph.

There is much that we can learn from today’s passage. Is there someone in your life that you have not forgiven for the wrong they have done to you? If so, you can do so today! God may desire to use you to help bring that other person to full repentance as well.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Today's Passage: Matthew 12

If I were going to preach from this passage, I doubt that I would do so in its entirety...there are several very diverse accounts of the life of Jesus here. Because of my personal journey with Christ recently, I will focus on the first story (1-14) here today.

I've been thinking a lot about both the need for truth and love in the church and the conflict between the two. (As a side note, we will be looking at this very thing Sunday morning as we begin John 4) Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field and got hungry....no crime there, except this happened to be on the Sabbath. There were very strict religious laws about working on the Sabbath, and this act would have been considered "work." The Pharisees, looking for a way to discredit Jesus (and turn the attention back to themselves), jumped at the chance to say, "Look at them! Working on the Sabbath! They aren't even good, law-abiding Jews! No one listen to them!" They had no desire to love Jesus...just the desire to point out the flaws in others.

Why is it human nature to be so quick to point out the flaws in others, yet excuse the flaws we have personally? We all struggle with sin, but our personal sin can be explained away. "Well, you don't know my story." "I've just made some bad choices." "Things conspired to make me the way I am." Almost always, these things are true...we often fall into sin based on a series of circumstances and bad choices. Why, then, is that not our first thought of others? Why is it our nature to assume that someone else is, for lack of a better word, "bad'?

Jesus gives such a wonderful answer in two parts. First, He basically says, "You follow the law...well, I'm greater than the law. I AM the law." He then takes them to the synagogue...they probably thought they were lucky to find another trap, but didn't realize the trap was for them. They thought they could force Jesus to choose between truth (the law about working on the Sabbath) and love (his compassion for the man). Jesus correctly points out to the Pharisees that they wouldn't let a valuable animal perish because of the Sabbath...so He will not deny this valuable human being from his love. The man is healed...Jesus, as always, is correct...and the Pharisees are even more angry.

The law of the Sabbath was made so that people would honor God. Now, God is in their midst, and they are so focused on how to honor Him that they miss Him completely. They are so focused on truth that they miss love entirely. While we must...we must...stand for the truth of scripture, we must also never forget that the love God has for us must pour into a lost and dying world!

More on this Sunday morning at 11:01 a.m. at Bear Creek if you are interested!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Today's Passage: Genesis 41-42

What patience Joseph has shown throughout his journey. He has been up and down and up and down again. He finally has a chance to speak to Pharaoh after being in prison two years after the cupbearer leaves. I think it would be easy to focus on Joseph in this passage and his gifts and faith. However, I want to look at a different side of the story that I think gets overlooked. Pharaoh shows a real faith and trust in God.

At the beginning of this chapter Pharaoh is seeking his advice from magicians and wise men. He looks to everyone besides God. Then, God provides someone to bring His message to Pharaoh. Joseph took the long way around the mountain to get to Pharaoh’s court. He had been through more than most of us will in a lifetime. When Pharaoh asks Joseph to interpret the dream, Joseph very quickly says that he cannot tell him what it means, but God can. God uses Joseph to tell Pharaoh that bad things are coming. It is at this point that Pharaoh has some choices to make. He can ignore the interpretation and go about his business or he can listen to God’s message and get ready. When I have read this passage before, I do not think that I have ever really focused on Pharaoh. I have always looked at Joseph and his courage to tell Pharaoh the truth of his dream.

Pharaoh chooses to believe Joseph and to prepare for the famine. What he does next is amazing and is an example for us. Pharaoh, a non-believer, is an example to us! He knows that bad times are coming and things are going to get rough and he can trust in his own strength and wisdom, or he can surround himself with Godly men and trust in God’s words. Remember, Joseph was very quick to say that it was not his power, but God’s that interpreted the dream, so it would seem clear that it was not his wisdom, but God’s that came up with the plan to prepare for the famine.

When we know that rough times are coming, we have two options: try and fight them out alone, or surround ourselves with Godly people and seek God’s wisdom with them. God’s wisdom trumps ours every time. When we are seeking God’s wisdom and have Godly people around us we stand a better chance of getting through the times of “famine.” I encourage you today to find some Godly people to surround yourself with and seek God’s counsel together. I know that you may not be experiencing a time of “famine” right now, but a pastor once told me that everyone is, either in a time of trouble, just coming out of a time of trouble, or preparing to go in to a time of trouble. This probably seems like a shameless plug for accountability, and it is, but if we are going to make it in this world we cannot do this alone.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Today's Passage: Matthew 11

The semester is in full swing at seminary. Papers and projects are due and midterms are happening. It makes Spring Break all the more appealing. It also makes Matthew 11:28-29 all the more appealing. Jesus invites the weary and burdened to find rest in Him--everyone can relate to and find comfort in that. Then why is this often the last place I go when I'm weary and burdened?

This past weekend at Ladies' Retreat we discussed this very thing. The theme verse was Psalm 91:4 which says, "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." God is abundantly willing AND able to offer us this peace and protection...He tells us so numerous times in Scripture...so why on earth would I go anywhere else for it? Unfortunately, I do. This weekend, our speaker asked us if we go to "the phone or the Throne" in times of trouble. Yikes! That one stepped on my toes a little bit. All too often when I'm tired, frustrated, or stressed I pick up the phone. And that rarely does any good (plus, that paper's not writing itself while I'm chatting).

All of us know what it is to be weary and burdened. Today's passage coupled with Ladies' Retreat has really challenged me to evaluate where I turn during those times. Let's all strive to run to the only One who offers true rest!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Today's Passage: Genesis 39-40

We all have people we look up to. There are people in our lives that have characteristics we want to have, and habits that we want to form. In this passage, Joseph is definitely a role model for me. Let's just look at a few things about Joseph in this passage: God found favor with him, he was handsome, well built, an interpreter of dreams, and had the full trust of Potiphar. Most of those we look up to are successful in their given field, similar to Joesph. God may even have blessed you with success in your given field.

People who have experienced success and influence know there is one thing that can always stop them in their tracks: moral failure. From David in the Old Testament to Bill Clinton in the White House, temptation is synonymous with success. Joseph was not immune to this temptation, but notice how he responded. Gen. 39:12 shows that Joseph literally ran from temptation. However, Joseph did not exactly get a congratulations party thrown for him because he fled temptation. Rather, he got put in jail.

One thing is for sure, temptation will come. The only variable is how we will respond. Remember there will not be an extravagant prize waiting for us every time we flee temptation. But, we like Joseph, must keep the proper focus. God is where we should fix our eyes. It is early in the week, and surely by Sunday you will have some type of temptation. It may be small, or it may be enormous. May we all be like Joseph, and focus on God this week!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Today's Passage: Genesis 38

Who said reading the Bible isn't exciting? This story is just as racy as any drama on TV today. I do find it interesting that the second chapter into the long story about Joseph is completely about one of the brothers who betrayed him.

I imagine that God's purpose behind this side story is to show us the side effects of living a life consumed by sin. Here is what I mean, Judah was one of the brothers who didn't like Joseph and ended up kidnapping him, throwing him into a pit, selling him into slavery and finally faking his death to cover it all up. Every aspect of this situation is tied up in selfishness, inhumanity and lies (aka sin). Fast forward to Judah's own family, specifically his three sons. Two of them God finds wicked and destroys them. This leaves only the youngest, Shelah. Which I find interesting since it was the youngest of Judah's siblings that he hated so much. Then to protect Shelah, Judah breaks the promise he made to Tamar and winds up being deceived by her.

Other religions would call this karma or bad luck, God just calls it the consequences of sin. It says in James 1:14-15: "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death", this is the progression of consequences that God wants us to understand. When sin goes unchecked it grows into an uncontrollable and deadly mess that we can't get out of on our own.

Living a life consumed by sin is dangerous, yet there are millions of people who honestly believe that they have no other choice but to live that way. We can never stress enough, how important it is for us to share with others the hope and freedom we have in Christ. You never know who is living with a secret and deadly mess in their life, while longing for there to be another way.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Today's Passage: Genesis 36-37

What's the saying...'hindsight is 20/20"? Often times in my life I do the same thing. Things happen that aren't so good and I look back and think...man, I wish I would've made a different choice because I know things would've been better for me now (but in the long run, it's exactly where I needed to be)! Joseph finds himself in a very similar situation. If only he hadn't gone to look for his brothers. If he had told his father he was busy doing something else, then he wouldn't have been sold into slavery!

Often times I overlook the fact that God is at work even in our troubles. I mentioned this a few weeks ago during Sunday Morning Bible Study. It's easy for us now to read the story of Abraham and Sarah and not understand why Sarah wanted Abraham to have a child with someone else. We have the luxury of knowing the end of the story, but she didn't. When we are right in the midst of hard times, we easily lose sight of God. We can easily feel abandoned, or feel like we have done something to mess this whole thing up. The good news is that we have a God who never leaves us.

Joseph was put through some extraordinarily difficult things in his life. Never once was he abandoned by God. Joseph didn't de-rail God's plan for him to one day become the governer of Egypt by going through rough patches. The encouragement that I draw from this is that even now, as Patti and I are facing some unexpected difficulties, God's right here! Things may not always be sunshine and roses, but God is at work in us. In these times, seek hard for Him!