More Than A Prisoner!
Have you ever been faced with a hard decision in life, where if you choose to do the right thing before God you might be punished or persecuted among men? I know that many of us face those kind of dilemas daily. Take for instance the many Pastors all over the world who are called to preach a message of repentance to their congregation for a particular sin, but know full well from past experiences and watching others that it just might cost them the loss of the job of pastoring that congregation. Or take the Christians in China who just by sharing their faith might be thrown in prison or even killed. The examples can go on and on, and I am sure you can find one in your own life where you have been faced with this dilema. When you are faced with these hard decisions I want you to remember that you are not the first of God's children to have to go through this.
We all like to remember Joseph, Israel's favorite son, fondly and with much honor. But as we remember him let us not forget that his brothers hated him, so much so that when he was obedient to God by speaking forth his dreams they threw him in a pit, and then drew him out and sold him into slavery. Yet because Joseph obeyed the voice of the Lord he was more than a slave - he was in charge of everything in Potiphar's home. Yet again he was faced with another decision as Potiphar's wife wanted to have sexual intercourse with him, but he was obedient and did not sin against the Lord. Even to the point that when he refused her she manipulated her husband and had him thrown in prison.
It is there in that prison that many of us would have found ourselves in our most desperate hour. Yet Joseph remained calm, cool, and in charge. Yes I said in charge! Let's read what the scriptures say about it. As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed. Genesis 39:19-23
The rest of the world saw Joseph suffering for doing the right thing locked in a prison. Yet God was showing his favor to Joseph. For Joseph was more than a prisoner, he was a trustee, and more than a trustee, he was practically the assistant warden. What Joseph's brothers meant for harm, and what Potiphar's wife meant for harm we all know later worked out to save not only Joseph, but all of God's people. Each of us needs remember that as we obey God we might go through some trials, but on the other side of that trial is God's glorious purpose and plan for us. If we find ourselves as slaves and prisoners let us always declare that we are more than prisoners, we are God's people.
We all like to remember Joseph, Israel's favorite son, fondly and with much honor. But as we remember him let us not forget that his brothers hated him, so much so that when he was obedient to God by speaking forth his dreams they threw him in a pit, and then drew him out and sold him into slavery. Yet because Joseph obeyed the voice of the Lord he was more than a slave - he was in charge of everything in Potiphar's home. Yet again he was faced with another decision as Potiphar's wife wanted to have sexual intercourse with him, but he was obedient and did not sin against the Lord. Even to the point that when he refused her she manipulated her husband and had him thrown in prison.
It is there in that prison that many of us would have found ourselves in our most desperate hour. Yet Joseph remained calm, cool, and in charge. Yes I said in charge! Let's read what the scriptures say about it. As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed. Genesis 39:19-23
The rest of the world saw Joseph suffering for doing the right thing locked in a prison. Yet God was showing his favor to Joseph. For Joseph was more than a prisoner, he was a trustee, and more than a trustee, he was practically the assistant warden. What Joseph's brothers meant for harm, and what Potiphar's wife meant for harm we all know later worked out to save not only Joseph, but all of God's people. Each of us needs remember that as we obey God we might go through some trials, but on the other side of that trial is God's glorious purpose and plan for us. If we find ourselves as slaves and prisoners let us always declare that we are more than prisoners, we are God's people.
posted by Pastor Jerry at
8:27 AM
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