Joseph from the big house to the storehouse

Over the last 24 hours something unusual happened - I heard a sermon on Joseph (Genesis 37-46). What, you ask, is so unusual about that?  Well it seems God must be trying to say something to me because I have heard almost the exact sermon three times, yesterday morning in church and twice in the car this morning on my way to work. There are so many things we can learn from Joseph’s story but today I am reminded that God is a God who wants to transform us.  Sometimes this transformation can happen without much notice being taken on our parts, but usually transformation happens by way of challenges, difficulties and pain. Growth is rarely painless! 

When he was a young man Joseph was shown visions of the future in his dreams.  In his youthful excitement he threw caution to the wind and made a big blunder by telling his brothers he would end up ruling them one day. This was the beginning of what was about to be a very long and difficult season in his life. 

Here we go rapid fire...  Joseph's brothers plot to kill him but sell him instead - great start, right? He is sold again to Potiphar, whose wife (let’s just say she was the original desperate housewife) tries to seduce him.  Joseph makes like Forest Gump and RUNS. Mrs. Potiphar lies and twists the truth so Joseph ends up being tossed from Potiphar’s house into the "big house".  While in jail Joseph has an encounter with the pharaoh’s baker and cup bearer which turns out to be good for one and bad for the other. Finally, he ends up interpreting dreams for Pharaoh and is placed in charge of all of Egypt. When famine strikes and his brothers end up on his doorstep looking to buy food Joseph, who could get even for all of their treachery, instead decides to have just a little fun at their expense. In the end he reconciles with his brothers and saves God’s people from starvation.

Joseph’s story is full of pain and difficulties yet he keeps his eyes on God, his pride in check, and he holds to the knowledge that God has a plan.  Slavery and prison were not pleasant to be sure, but Joseph allows God to use this time and these experiences to grow him, and as a result he discovers personal freedom and an ability to forgive his brothers that is almost incomprehensible.

No matter what you are going through today, keep your eyes focused on God.   Be cautious about casting blame, circumstances might not be anyone’s fault; it could be God redirecting your path.  I have heard several pastors say instead of asking God why, maybe we should ask ourselves why not.  I do not believe that God always causes our difficulties as punishment for sin - sometimes our difficulties have absolutely nothing to do with us but are there to draw others to God.

Whatever the reason for your struggle or difficulty be like Joseph and grow from it. You will certainly benefit yourself, but who knows, you just might be a blessing to someone else...or even save a nation.

RE-CONNECT

How shallow can we be? We hide our inmost pain and fears from others as we keep the people who could help us at arms length. What are we so afraid of? Hurt, separation, mocking are just a few of the things we are afraid of. Why do we struggle so? The Bible teaches us that if we share our burden it is eaiser to bear. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says: “Two are better than on because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if somebody overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands in to easily broken.”

We know it is easier to share our burdens yet we don’t. Why? We have become so self centered that others have no place in our lives. We have become a society of individuals without a connection to others and most importantly we have lost our connection to God.

The loss of our connection has been a slow process it was not lost over night. Because of this the journey back will not be an overnight process.

Rediscovering our connection begins with the realization that the connection has been lost. To regain your connection with others you need to surround yourself with good Christian men and women who will help nurture you and who will provide you with a safe environment to share your thoughts, struggles, burdens and other demons. Your connection to and with God is the easiest and yet the hardest to regain. You must first put aside anything that is causing the separation and confess any unconfessed sin in your life. Then just talk to God and tell Him what’s on your mind. Daily quiet time and prayer help maintain the connection and strengthen your relationship with God by conforming your will to His.

May God bless you as you get re-CONNECTED.

TRANSFORMED

As we live a life consumed by God we will find our lives being transformed into His likeness. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: “We all with unveiled faces are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” I find the more I think about transformation two questions come up. First, do I want to be transformed and second, how am I transformed?

Do I want to be transformed? Transformation has a cost and am I willing to pay the cost? What will I have to sacrifice in order to be transformed? These are personal and often times painful questions we must ask as we search our hearts. Take a moment to soul search before you continue. Do you want transformation in your life?

So you want to be transformed. What next? First you must have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus. For He is the Only Way, the Only Truth and the Only Life, you cannot connect to God without Jesus in your heart and life. Titus 3:5 says: “He saved us not by works of righteousness that we had done but according to His Mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit." After establishing that you have a relationship with God you must put aside things that are not glorifying to Him. Ephesians 4:22 & 23 tells us our old selves are corrupted by deceitful desires and our minds will be renewed by the Holy Spirit when we put them aside. Romans 12:2 says: “Do not be conformed but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good pleasing and perfect will of God.” How do we renew our minds? Let’s see, read your Bible and pray…regular worship attendance and discipleship with other believers helps too!

Transformation is a long process and you could argue that it is never complete in this life. Are you ready to begin? Take the first step.

CONSUME

The next few posts are older posts from another blog of mine.  I have been reading through them and felt they were worth sharing again.

CONSUME. To Consume: to do away with completely; to spend wastefully; to eat or drink especially in great quantity; to engage fully.

Consume can be either good or bad depending on how we look at it. If we let a situation consume us to the point where we are no good to anyone, including ourselves, we are consumed badly. I have allowed my circumstances the last several weeks consume me and rob me of my joy, this is a horrible way to be consumed and yet I have allowed it to happen. I know it is ok to grieve and be sad but I must not allow it to consume my every moment. God gives us grace to make it through so I need to keep my eyes focused on Him. Are you being consumed by something and allowing it to take your joy?

So, what is consumed in a good or beneficial way? In Psalms, David writes, "Zeal for Your house will consume me." God is referred to as an all consuming fire. It we allow ourselves to be consumed by the fire of God, we will put away things that separate us from Him and others. By doing this we allow Him to use and transform us into His likeness. By becoming more like Him, our lives will be changed along with the lives of those around us.

Allow God to CONSUME you, not the things that will keep you down.

Be CONSUMED and Transformed.

The Gospel