Amazing Love
Joseph Makes Himself Known
1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.'
12 "You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."
Bee's Thoughts:
I like the attitude of Joseph. He did not resent the fact that his brothers had sold him into slavary. He saw it as God's doing, that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). He knew that God had a purpose for allowing the seemingly bad thing to happen in his life. He loved his brothers still, he forgave them and consoled them, asking them not to feel bad about the wrong they did to him.
God was teaching me something through today's Sunday Service sermon, "Finding the Strength to Go On". Today's devotion has reinforced that message that when things happen to me it may be a blessing in disguise, like in Joseph's case. Therefore, during my time of crisis I should find strength to go on in God.
Yes, when I looked back at my past, from childhood till now, I could see God's hands in my life. He allowed things to happen to me in order to mould my life to what I am today... my life transformation, my education, my career, my relationship, etc. For all these, I give God the glory.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that You have never left me alone in my despair or crisis. You have been there with me all the time and see me through every trials. Praise You, Lord. Amen.
Tommy's Thought:
“Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - Luke 5:31-32
We have a wonderful God that knows, seeks and helps out those in the greatest need, those who feel helpless and condemned. By His amazing love and grace, God redeem us from being doomed to sin and eternal punishment. God makes this possible through the death of His own Son, Jesus Christ on the cross; wiping away our sins and making us renewed and whole again.
But, we often forget this, of what Christ has done for us, by continually hating, blaming and condemning our self for the wrongs we have committed. Satan commonly uses our doubt on the sufficiency of the Cross, to pull us off track, trapping us indefinitely from drawing close to God and others.
So, when we say we believe and trusted in what Christ has done for us:
- We should know all of our sins have been forgiven: past, present and future (Col. 2:13-14)
- We have been delivered from Satan's power and domain (Col. 1:13)
- We have been declared righteous by God (2 Cor. 5:21)
- We have been accepted by God (Col. 1:19-22)
- We have now Christ dwelling within us (Col. 1:27)
- We have become new creations of God (2 Cor. 5:17)
- We have received eternal life (John 5:24)
Do always remember and meditate upon, especially this coming Good Friday and Easter, the fact that the forgiveness of our sins, the new life within us and our entry into God's presence is based completely and solely on the work of Christ at Calvary.
Dear Lord, how great and amazing Your love! I’ll praise and glorify Your name forever. Thank You for Your faithfulness and all that You have done for me, yesterday, today and tomorrow. In the wonderful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
.......the devotion of Bee & Tommy
