He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)
A proverb that came true in the life of Joseph, son of Jacob. He was a man who pursued righteousness. In distress, he did not accuse God, but waited for his deliverance. When pursued by sinful temptations, he chose to run away from it as is evident in the following verses.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, (Genesis 39:6-13)
Joseph could have lived in sin, but he chose not to give into the temptation. For pursuing righteousness, he landed in prison for 2 years because Potiphar's wife falsely accused him. It was not only righteousness that he pursued; he also pursued love, in that he forgave his brothers who had thrown him mercilessly into a pit and later sold him as a slave. God's watchful eyes were on him at all times and when God exalted him, the rewards were what we read in the title verse....life, prosperity and honor.
May it be so in our lives too. God bless.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 323
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Psalms 33:11)
No one can thwart the plans of God. He is Almighty. From the beginning, he weilds all power and everything, living and nonliving are subject to him. The Psalmist exhorts all in this manner:
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. (Psalm 33:8, 9)
The Apostle Paul writing to the Colossians says this regarding Jesus,
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)
Jesus said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)
As a believer in Jesus Christ, you must always remember that you serve an Almighty God. All authority in heaven and on earth is with Jesus. Even though circumstances in your life say otherwise, he can change everthing in a moment. He can change rules for you. He can make unyielding officials yielding. He can change governments for your sake. You are precious to him. If your plans are his original plans, he will make a way. It's only a matter of time. Hang in there. Keep praying. God bless.
No one can thwart the plans of God. He is Almighty. From the beginning, he weilds all power and everything, living and nonliving are subject to him. The Psalmist exhorts all in this manner:
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. (Psalm 33:8, 9)
The Apostle Paul writing to the Colossians says this regarding Jesus,
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)
Jesus said,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)
As a believer in Jesus Christ, you must always remember that you serve an Almighty God. All authority in heaven and on earth is with Jesus. Even though circumstances in your life say otherwise, he can change everthing in a moment. He can change rules for you. He can make unyielding officials yielding. He can change governments for your sake. You are precious to him. If your plans are his original plans, he will make a way. It's only a matter of time. Hang in there. Keep praying. God bless.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 321
And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. (Exodus 3:21)
God had planned to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and he didn't want them to go empty-handed. He told Moses that he was going to make the enemy be favorably disposed to them. And it did happen as God said.
The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:35, 36)
God can touch the hearts of men to be favorably disposed to his chosen ones and here is an example.
So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. "Let's not take his life," he said. "Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him." Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. (Genesis 37:17-22)
Later on.....Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. (Genesis 37:26, 27)
God touched the hearts of Reuben and Judah at the right moments and so Joseph remained alive though his brothers had earlier planned to kill him.
If you are in a situation where others are oppressing you and not giving you what is just, take hope from the promise in the title verse. God is able to make the enemy be favorably disposed to you. The Israelites had suffered at the hands of the Egyptians; what was justly due to them as wages were withheld for quite a long time and now God wanted them to have what they had been denied earlier. God is just and he will see to it that those who have purposely withheld what is due to you, be favorably disposed to you and give you what you have asked for in prayer. Praise the Lord.
God had planned to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and he didn't want them to go empty-handed. He told Moses that he was going to make the enemy be favorably disposed to them. And it did happen as God said.
The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:35, 36)
God can touch the hearts of men to be favorably disposed to his chosen ones and here is an example.
So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. "Let's not take his life," he said. "Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him." Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. (Genesis 37:17-22)
Later on.....Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. (Genesis 37:26, 27)
God touched the hearts of Reuben and Judah at the right moments and so Joseph remained alive though his brothers had earlier planned to kill him.
If you are in a situation where others are oppressing you and not giving you what is just, take hope from the promise in the title verse. God is able to make the enemy be favorably disposed to you. The Israelites had suffered at the hands of the Egyptians; what was justly due to them as wages were withheld for quite a long time and now God wanted them to have what they had been denied earlier. God is just and he will see to it that those who have purposely withheld what is due to you, be favorably disposed to you and give you what you have asked for in prayer. Praise the Lord.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 320
O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever. (2 Samuel 7:29, 29)
King David was overwhelmed with the plethora of promises that the Lord gave him through the prophet Nathan and here he acknowledges God’s faithfulness and prays for God to bless him and his descendants continually. The promises given him were awesome. God told him,
1) I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.
2) I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.
3) I will give you rest from all your enemies.
4) I will establish a house for you.
5) When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
6) Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.
God is faithful in all that he says and does. As David says here, “His words are trustworthy”. He does not go back on the promises that he makes if we remain faithful to him. Many promises are conditional and require us to obey him in what he has told us. There are other promises that he gives and fulfills because it is his absolute will. Like here we see God proclaiming that David’s son would be the one who would build God’s temple and it was fulfilled by Solomon building it.
Another thing noticeable here is David repeatedly acknowledging that he is God’s servant. You and me, we too are God’s servants; put here on earth in our places to fulfill God’s plans through us. Shall we then be faithful in our callings, so that God may bless us and our families as he blessed David? Praise the Lord.
King David was overwhelmed with the plethora of promises that the Lord gave him through the prophet Nathan and here he acknowledges God’s faithfulness and prays for God to bless him and his descendants continually. The promises given him were awesome. God told him,
1) I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.
2) I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.
3) I will give you rest from all your enemies.
4) I will establish a house for you.
5) When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
6) Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.
God is faithful in all that he says and does. As David says here, “His words are trustworthy”. He does not go back on the promises that he makes if we remain faithful to him. Many promises are conditional and require us to obey him in what he has told us. There are other promises that he gives and fulfills because it is his absolute will. Like here we see God proclaiming that David’s son would be the one who would build God’s temple and it was fulfilled by Solomon building it.
Another thing noticeable here is David repeatedly acknowledging that he is God’s servant. You and me, we too are God’s servants; put here on earth in our places to fulfill God’s plans through us. Shall we then be faithful in our callings, so that God may bless us and our families as he blessed David? Praise the Lord.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Simple Thoughts On Promises- 318
But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22)
Have you read this verse before? It very clearly states the condition of the present world; meaning it's inhabitants collectively....A PRISONER OF SIN. Not all are prisoners though. There is a minority for whom the promise of eternal life will be fulfilled because they believe in salvation through Jesus Christ.
Long ago, during the days of Noah, the world had become a prisoner of sin and God destroyed it with a flood. The Bible says,
The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." (Genesis 6:5-7)
And now again, the world has become A PRISONER OF SIN. And this is what the Bible has to say regarding this prisoner.
"By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:7)
Judgement and destruction is definite. So what must one do?
The Apostle Peter exhorts us in this manner,
"The LORD is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the LORD will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."(2 Peter 3:9-12)
Summing it up, he writes,
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)
The promise will be fulfilled for those who have trusted in Jesus and are living for him. Praise the Lord.
Have you read this verse before? It very clearly states the condition of the present world; meaning it's inhabitants collectively....A PRISONER OF SIN. Not all are prisoners though. There is a minority for whom the promise of eternal life will be fulfilled because they believe in salvation through Jesus Christ.
Long ago, during the days of Noah, the world had become a prisoner of sin and God destroyed it with a flood. The Bible says,
The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." (Genesis 6:5-7)
And now again, the world has become A PRISONER OF SIN. And this is what the Bible has to say regarding this prisoner.
"By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:7)
Judgement and destruction is definite. So what must one do?
The Apostle Peter exhorts us in this manner,
"The LORD is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the LORD will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."(2 Peter 3:9-12)
Summing it up, he writes,
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)
The promise will be fulfilled for those who have trusted in Jesus and are living for him. Praise the Lord.
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