Sunday, February 5, 2012
Gen 46:2 and Matt 23:6 "Survey Your Future" (February 5)
Genesis 46:2 God Himself spoke to Jacob: "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.” The son you've only been able to dream about for two decades is waiting for you, Jacob. And he will call you Israel.
They wept for a good while when they met. Gen 46:29. No pretense here. Lives living faith well. No pharasaical phylacteries, no demands of places of honor at the best seat in the house. Matt 23:5-6.
Joseph looked in the rearview mirror at the Love of his God, so evident in his wilderness. He was fed well in prison; he was clothed with regal garments from ditches to majesty. Joseph looks in the mirror of the Word of God this day and knows that God meant all his suffering for His Good and the good of his family. Let the Faith of your Survey see Hope for your future. Joseph and Israel never lost hold of hope. Let the Faith of your Survey see Hope for your future.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I was so touched by Joseph weeping on his father's neck "for a good while." All that he had been through, all that he had missed, but most of all, his beloved father had been ripped from his life one historic day from his youth.
ReplyDeleteThen, Jacob exclaims, 'I never thought I'd see your face and God lets me see your boys!" Looking back, both could see God's mighty Hand on their lives in what seemed like the hardest events in their lives. Their provision and their faith strengthened, they gained more than they thought was ever possible. Because of faith? Possibly. Because of Grace? Definitely.
Now for personal application, I have asked for Jesus to search my ways, and I have been found lacking and a hypocrite. Professing one value, living another, enforcing my values and what I deem important on others, yet not living up to the standard myself. Thinking others lazy while my own house lies in disrepair. Both figuratively and literally. Lord, purify my heart from these pollutants that divide my heart. Humble me before these I esteem, Lord. My heart is Yours alone to do as You deem necessary that I may be Your servant and not another's.
Blessed Sunday! Day of Reconciliation. Day of the Alleluias! (perhaps only the ones of you who are/were Catholic will get that part, but I love the days of the Alleluias!)
You just love worship, Annette, whether the alleluias are from sin-sick souls or glorious stanzas or hopeful hearts. God has made you to just LOVE worship. And it so shows! Love you so much!
ReplyDeleteGenesis 48:18-19
ReplyDelete"And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”
Matthew 23:11-12
"The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Imitating Christ's humility...
Philippians 2:1-11
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
A day of Hosannas and Alleluias!!!
Let Christ be lifted up and praised.