Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Genesis: God Still Has A Purpose For You

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Chapters: Genesis 37-39
Message: Genesis: God Still Has A Purpose For You

Hello My Friend,

Christians are not perfect, we mess up just as much as everyone else, but the difference between us and those who live in the world is our willingness to be used of God, even if we do not understand His purpose. I will tell you that I met a guy, he is saved, but I call him a babe in Christ because he has a lot to learn about God. For the life of me I cannot understand why we are still talking, but as I think about the way God uses us in many ways, I do understand that He is using me to show Him through me in this strange text relationship. You see, we are not perfect, but we are needed, and God will use us in many ways to reach His people, and bring others to Him as well. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” - 1 Peter 5:6.

The events that take place in our lives, good or bad, often play a great part in the successes or failures in not only our future, but others as well. God always has a plan and a purpose for everything that goes on in the world, He will use anyone for the sake of proving who He is, and we are peculiar people in the world, even in the midst of our own families. Joseph had eleven brothers, all except one, Ben, were half brothers, and while they were all well aware of God, not all of them followed Him. Joseph was unlike them, and they knew it, for that reason they despised him, even conspiring to have him killed, but God had other plans, he used Judah, who would soon have his own problems, to encourage them to sell him into slavery instead.

And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.” - Genesis 37:26-34.

What profit is it if we slay our brother,” These men did not know it at the time, but God would use Joseph to preserve their lives and countless others. We may never understand the purpose of God's plan in the beginning, but will always find the hand of God in everything that happens to us. “And we know 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.

Interestingly, God does not need us to be good and godly for Him to use us, God had a plan for Judah as well, who by the way would be the seed from which Jesus would descend. Judah separated himself from his brothers, he dwelt in Canaan, and married a Canaanite woman, which was forbidden, he also unknowingly committed fornication and had illegitimate children with his own daughter-in-law thinking she was a prostitute.

And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.” - Genesis 38:13-15,24-27.

She hath been more righteous than I;” Judah did not know it, but God would use him to preserve his seed in not only bringing David, the apple of God's eye, into the world, but also His very own begotten Son. Even the most ungodly, and unthinkable acts can be used of God for something great. Never let your past determine your future, God is already there, and knows exactly what will come of every situation that we get into, even if it is something He did not intend for us. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” - Philippians 3:13-15.

God has big plans for us, we can choose to see our circumstances as opportunities to see those plans be revealed or we can choose to be depressed and do noting in hopes that something will get better. God is amazing, under the most unique circumstances He will make us prosper through them. Now, as we get back to Joseph, he had no idea what would come of him being sold as a slave, but God used it for good. He soon found favor from Potiphar, the captain of the guard who bought him, but as with all people who try to live for God no matter where He places them, he found himself in another situation. Potiphar's wife had been watching Joseph, for quite some time, she became infatuated with him and was determined to get him in bed with her.

And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” - Genesis 39:2-4,7-10.

how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Here is the key to enduring all the challenges we face, stand true to our faith. Joseph was not perfect, he should not have even been in there with her while no one else was there to begin with, but he would no sin against God. Perhaps the most shocking news to people, especially family and friends, we will or will not do something because it goes against God. You will not get a good response, even Christians will tell you that you are crazy. Let me tell you, you will know who your true friends are when you refuse to do something because it is against what God, but God always knows the way that we take. “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” - Job 23:8-10. Praise God!

Today's Prayer: God, While I know I have made some mistakes in my life, You still have a plan and a purpose for everything I have done. Probably the biggest plan You had for me was in my darkest hour, when I finally chose Your Son to be a permanent figure in my life you gave me a new and prosperous life. I have had my ups and downs since then, and I know I will have more, but know it will all work together for good and for Your glory. Lord, thank You for loving me, never forsaking me, and always seeing better things of me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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