Genesis 39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.”
Here is this story of how Joseph has been completely rejected by his family; his life is spiraling downward and it seems to be completely hopeless except for the fact that “the Lord was with Joseph.” From this presence, the Lord begins to piece together a journey of acceptance that ends in Joseph being the saving grace of those that rejected him. In their rejection of Joseph, God began to piece together the story of their redemption.
This is the very heart of the gospel; this is the story of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. In my rejection of God, God has then taken that rejection to piece together a story of redemption through the very God that I reject through my sin. I come here this morning feeling somewhat like Joseph; feeling like I’m in Egypt (away from where I should be); feeling like I’m in prison (that life seems hopeless); but yet I am reminded that I am not alone for if I am alone then I have every reason to be hopeless. But I am confident that like Joseph, the Lord is with me and because of this presence there will be success in my life. Likewise, I am reminded that the very people, things, circumstances that I reject, God can turn into my source of redemption and transformation. I thank God for this promise of presence today.
Lord, I come to you this morning praying that you will help me to remember that in my rejection of you, you took the opportunity to use that rejection as the source to bring about my redemption through Jesus Christ. May you remind me throughout today that you are with me and this simple promise is the reason my life is a success. I am a success not because of accomplishments, money, status, responsibility….I am a success solely because you are present in my life. May you help me to remember that in the same way you can use me to be an instrument of redemption in those that have rejected me and that you also use those I reject to be instruments of my own redemption. I’m not really sure how this works but I believe the truth of Joseph’s story that is at work in my own life. Help me to recognize this circle of redemption and where ever I find myself in the circle may you give me the grace to trust that the one thing that doesn’t change is your presence in my life. Amen!
God will use my faithfulness to bring about redemption in others; God will use the faithfulness of others to bring about redemption in my life.
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