Sunday, January 17, 2016

Genesis: You Are What Your Future Holds

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, January 17, 2016
Chapters: Genesis 49-50
Message: Genesis: You Are What Your Future Holds

Hello My Friend,

We all have a plan for our future, and while some of us do get a chance to fulfill that plan, most of us find ourselves in a different plan. I remember growing up and wanting to be a computer tech, even went to school for it, but today I am the owner of my own online bakery, a web designer, and many other things in between. While my professions have certainly changed my character has not, I am still quiet and shy, I still have the same values, but the difference between now and then, I have Christ, now He has given me a new set of values, along with some amazing testimonies that prove we can do all things through Christ, and He holds our future in His hands. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” - 2 Timothy 4:7,8.

Did you ever watch someone growing up and get a glimpse of how they were going to be when they got older? Then you found out that you were not very far off once they grew up? I have seen some bad kids get badder as adults. This is what Jacob did with his twelve sons, he gave them an idea of what their future holds, one by one, he called them by birth order, blessed them, and told them their future.

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.”- Genesis 49:1,5-12.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah,” Sceptre or scepter, a staff or rod used as a symbol of authority, the use of the sceptre originated in the idea that the ruler of the land was as a shepherd of his people. Interestingly, Judah, would be the most blessed of all the families, as this would be the seed in which David would be born into and also Jesus would ascend, in which Jacob gives a bit of prophecy. Jesus is the Shepherd of those who believe in Him. The word Shiloh means tranquil, at peace, it's also another name for the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Prince of peace, the King of kings is also the Saviour who gives peace to all who believe in and receive Him. What is the peace? The peace of knowing that we will live forever with Him. We do not need to fear what our future holds when we have Christ because He is our future. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” - John 6:27,47.

Sometimes our future looks kind of bleak or fearful because of things we have done in the past, but we should never let our past be what holds our future, it is after all our past, and it is time we look to a more positive future. After Jacob gave his blessings, he was at peace and ready to be with the Lord, shortly after he spoke he died. Now that their father was gone, Simeon, and all his brothers were sure that Joseph was going to get revenge for what they did to him all those years ago. However, he didn't seek revenge, he forgave them, and actually took care of them.

And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” - Genesis 50:15-21.

for am I in the place of God?” God has a place for us, even if we have not been the best Christian's. Sometimes God allows us to be in a certain place in our lives in order to develop our relationship with Him, sometimes He chastens us, sometimes we are wrongfully persecuted or treated badly, but until we let go of the past and move forward we are not going to see much of a future. By the way, God has seen our future, and if we have Christ, the best is yet to come. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” - 1 Peter 4:1,2,15-17.

Today's Prayer: God, the cares of this world often weigh our hearts down and we do things we are not proud of. Thank You for your mercy and grace to never leave nor forsake us, it’s not Your desire that we carry a heavy load because You are the barer of our burdens. You use the difficult circumstances of our lives to bring glory to Yourself as You prepare us for our furute. Our faith is strengthened and understanding deepened as You take the evil that Satan hurls at us and turn it into a glorious occasion for good. You are the same God who led us into battle and You are the same God who will lead us to victory in Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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