But God.....

“So it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:8)

Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers.  He was falsely accused and thrown into prison and was forgotten about.  He had every reason to be bitter, every reason to lose hope and to give up.  Have you been there?  Have you been treated unfairly?  Has something happened to you that isn't justified?  I cannot image what went through Joseph’s mind those years, but everywhere he went God blessed him.  In Potiphar’s house he managed everything and his master was greatly blessed.  When he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, she lie and he went to prison.  He did the right thing by fleeing from her advances and he suffered.  Have you ever suffered for doing the right thing? 

While in prison again he is used to be a blessing and the keeper of the prison puts Joseph in charge and the keeper is blessed.  When the king’s cupbearer and baker are thrown into prison, each has a dream and Joseph interpreted their dreams.  He asked them not to forget about him and to mention him to Pharaoh.  The cupbearer forgets about Joseph and he sits in prison for another two years.  It is only when Pharaoh has a dream does the cupbearer remember Joseph.  After he interpreted Pharaoh dream he was released from prison and put in charge of Egypt.  It is after this he faces the brothers who had sold him into slavery.  He has forgiven them because he sees now God’s plan all along was to save them and many others, “So it was not you who sent me here, but God.” 

We don't always understand the ways of God, why allow Joseph to suffer for doing good?  Wasn't there and easier way of doing this?   I have come one conclusion about this life and it’s not about our comfort.  When we look back through time it is out of suffering the greatest triumphs arise.  Suffering has a way of refining us and making us dependence on God out of necessity.  One thing that is clear in the story of Joseph is he never lost faith in God, in fact everyone around him saw he was blessed no matter what circumstances he found himself in.  Through the trials and tribulations Joseph’s faith was stretched and strengthened until he understood why.  In the end he was a stronger person and was able to forgive and glorify God in a pagan nation. 

What are you going through?  This morning I want to encourage you to give it to God and trust he has a plan for it.  Trust that nothing happens to you that isn’t part of God’s glory.  You are one of his children and he is looking after you and building your faith.  Trust God and his goodness, encourage other who are suffering, be a part of God’s blessing.     

I Believe

“If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom 10:9 HCSB)

There has to be a confession, do you believe?  Do you believe in Jesus Christ, have to confessed him publicly, do you believe God raised him from the dead?  Have confessed with your heart? 

Do I trust the risen Savior as my only hope for salvation?  Have I handed him my sin and trusted in his forgiveness.  How would I answer these questions kneeling before the throne of God?

I have confessed Christ with my whole heart and I have given him my life and I am saved.  The text doesn't say anything else is required of me to be saved.  The result of my salvation leads me to repentance which is the turning away from sin, but it starts with confession and belief.  I stand on the promise of the scripture for salvation, I plead it before God every day of my life.  Let my mouth continually confess “Jesus is Lord”, until I haven’t breath in my lungs to speak and let me confess it before the throne of God on the Day of Judgment. 

In this life I need this salvation, I must be saved from sin, saved from the guilt of sin, from the power of sin.  But also I must be saved from the punishment of sin and from sin itself.  It is only when I’m freed I can be the person God wants me to be.  It’s only when the Son has broken the chains of bondage to self and to the world that I can love Him with all my heart and turn to my neighbor with the same love.  It is only in Christ, I can find this freedom and it comes only when I declare and believe in my heart “Jesus is Lord” and believe that God raised him from the dead. “You will be saved” this the promise I hang onto, “I am saved” is the cry of my joy in my savior Jesus. 

This life is short and fleeting, it’s over before you know it.  You don’t get to do it again until you get it right.  You have one shot, one opportunity, to believe.  Standing before the throne of God is not the time to confess your believe…..because He is right before you.  Now is the time to confess, now is the time to believe, what are you waiting for?     

   

The Conquers

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Rev 2:7 ESV)

We are far too easily pleased C.S. Lewis once said and I think that is very true.  As a Christian we are to fight the good fight, not give up but endure.  It's the way of God to be a warrior, not a warrior in the sense of overcoming another, but in defeating the enemy sin.  We have been placed in the middle of enemy occupied territory and we are to fight.  We are not fighting with our own means but by grace, through faith in our Lord fighting through us.  In him we are more than conquerors, we are victorious children of the king.  We carry with us faith, salvation, truth, righteousness, truth, the gospel, and defend it with the word of God.  We stand our ground against injustice, we protect the innocent and care for the poor and needy.  We pray for and carry one another in love for the kingdom to come. 

Great is our King, great is our Lord.  There is nothing he cannot do, nothing that he does not know, and he is everywhere.  Everything is held together by his grace, every creature takes a breath because he first gave it to them and will take their last because he allows it.  It is in him we endure to the end, it is in him we don’t give up.  One day when your last breath leaves your body, you will depart this world and enter into the presence of this Lord and King.  If you are part of the kingdom, he will allow you to eat the fruit of the tree of life.  You will no longer suffer the pain of life, or taste the sting of death. No longer will you shed tears of sorrow, but only will shed tears of joy.  This is where I place my faith, this is the hope that carries me and the grace that sustains me.