Back from vacation

I’m sorry about the lack of devotions and reflections on the daily readings recently.  I was on vacation with my family.  Starting tomorrow, Monday, June 23rd, I will be back in the swing of things writing daily devotions.

On vacation, I was thinking about my own spiritual growth, about how to hold myself more accountable to my daily devotion and study of God’s Word, as well as how to continue to encourage you in your spiritual growth.  All of this thinking made me wonder – what do you do for your daily devotional time?  What thing(s) would you find most helpful in your devotional life that isn’t there right now?  Any resources you would like to see?  One thought I’ve had is podcasting these daily devotions.  Would anybody be interested in it?  I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.

God’s blessings

Genesis 40:6-7 ~ Devotion

When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?”  (Genesis 40:6-7)

 

Who doesn’t like a good pity party?  There are some times in life when we just like to feel sorry for ourselves, talk about how everything is against us, and say, ’Woe is me’.  At those moments, we tend to be selfish.  We focus on our misfortunes, our problems, our tragedies.

 

Just think of the pity party Joseph could have thrown.  Hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and now sitting in an Egyptian dungeon.  Talk about things not going his way.

 

Reading about all that Joseph endured, are you a bit surprised by Joseph’s demeanor?  You’d almost expect him to be bitter, maybe angry with God or the world, an unpleasant person to be around.  But instead, we see him showing kindness and love to his fellow prisoners.  He sees the chief cupbearer and baker are sad after they had some odd dreams.  So Joseph goes and asks how they are doing, why they are so sad.  He shows he cares about them.  Then, in the rest of the chapter, we see him, with God’s blessing and power, doing what he can to help them.

 

With all that Joseph had gone through, how could not be bitter and angry?  Simple, he trusted in God.  His father Jacob had undoubtedly taught him about the true God and the promise of a Savior that would come from their family.  Joseph’s faith in his God sustained him through these difficult times.  He knew, even though he probably didn’t understand how it was all going to fit together, that God had a plan.  There weren’t just random chance events, but a way that God was strengthening his faith and showing him love.

 

As we go through those times in life when we are ready to throw our hands up in the air and have a good pity party, may we instead throw our hands together in prayer, trusting in our Savior God to guide us through this life to our eternal life in heaven.

 

 

Lord Jesus, be with us today in all we do and say. Be in us today and empower us to live and work for you. Be for us today as you are every day with your forgiveness. Belong to us today and every day until we become yours eternally in heaven. Hear us for your name’s sake.  Amen.

 

 

Today’s Light Bible reading:  Genesis 40

 

To read today’s reading online, click here.

 

 

 

 

Genesis 39:12 ~ Devotion

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.  (Genesis 39:12)

 

My wife and I have taught our kids that if anyone tries to grab them, to scream and run away from them as fast as they can.  We want them to understand the danger that they are in, and to get away from that danger quickly.

 

Such an action makes sense when talking about young children and a potentially dangerous situation.  Have you ever thought of having a similar strategy when it comes to temptation?

 

It was the strategy that Joseph employed with the devil tempted him with Potiphar’s wife.  After refusing her numerous advances, Joseph finally just ran out of the house rather than give into the temptation and sin against God.  He did what he had to do to remove himself from the spiritually dangerous situation.

 

What is your reaction going to be when temptation comes your way?  How are you going to handle a spiritually dangerous situation when faced the option to sin against God or not to?  Take a few moments to plan how you will handle the temptations that come into your life.  Start by thinking about the temptations you have fallen for in the past and determine how you are going to flee from that temptation in the future.  It may even take some drastic action like physically leaving the temptation, like Joseph.

 

With your plan in mind, may our God strengthen you, like he did Joseph, to flee temptation.

 

 

You have promised me, O God, that you will never test me more than I am able to bear. So I turn to you in my weakness and ask for strength to resist and overcome the temptations so often placed in my path by Satan and my sinful flesh. Teach me through your holy Word to desire what is right in your eyes and cause me to live a life of daily repentance, looking to Jesus for pardon and strength. Amen.

 

 

Today’s Light Bible reading:  Genesis 38-39

 

To read today’s reading online, click here.