I know I had a few. Ok, quite a few...
I never met or heard of anyone who had so many good reasons to throw a pity party as Joseph of the Old Testament. Imagine being ruthlessly, unceremoniously yanked from your golden child pedestal, betrayed by your own flesh and blood, torn from your homeland and beloved father, and, most debasing, to be sold into slavery in a foreign, pagan land. He lost everything--more than Job.
Chapter Two....we find Joseph standing on an auction block and shortly whisked away to a new home, culture and identity, rising to the highest rank in that household through his diligence and talent, then mercilessly maligned and sent to prison for a crime he boldly resisted committing.
Still, he was Joseph -- upstanding, wise, and unwavering.
Since the Old Testament is historical in nature, not reading like a novel or autobiography, it lacks the dramatic insights into the thoughts and feelings of the people involved, but if you can read between the lines, or draw inferences, as our English teachers taught us, it's easy to see that Joseph's spirit and character were unscathed by all of these trials.
His faith MUST have been unwavering to sustain him>>>>His attitude MUST have been consistently stellar>>>His joy mast have been incredibly resilient>>>His outcome was undoubtedly victorious.
Do you see the formula here? It never fails. I challenge you today to trust God with whatever challenges today presents. God never failed Joseph--it all worked out in his favor, and he will never fail you. If your joy is diminished or your attitude is soured, go back to square one--FAITH. Let go of the feelings of injustice, hurt feelings, damaged pride, whatever...Again, the people and things that try to reduce your value do not define you, but if you will trust God, and take the high road in every situation like Joseph did, you can't help being a winner.
He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.-- Proverbs 16:20
I never met or heard of anyone who had so many good reasons to throw a pity party as Joseph of the Old Testament. Imagine being ruthlessly, unceremoniously yanked from your golden child pedestal, betrayed by your own flesh and blood, torn from your homeland and beloved father, and, most debasing, to be sold into slavery in a foreign, pagan land. He lost everything--more than Job.
Chapter Two....we find Joseph standing on an auction block and shortly whisked away to a new home, culture and identity, rising to the highest rank in that household through his diligence and talent, then mercilessly maligned and sent to prison for a crime he boldly resisted committing.
Still, he was Joseph -- upstanding, wise, and unwavering.
Since the Old Testament is historical in nature, not reading like a novel or autobiography, it lacks the dramatic insights into the thoughts and feelings of the people involved, but if you can read between the lines, or draw inferences, as our English teachers taught us, it's easy to see that Joseph's spirit and character were unscathed by all of these trials.
His faith MUST have been unwavering to sustain him>>>>His attitude MUST have been consistently stellar>>>His joy mast have been incredibly resilient>>>His outcome was undoubtedly victorious.
Do you see the formula here? It never fails. I challenge you today to trust God with whatever challenges today presents. God never failed Joseph--it all worked out in his favor, and he will never fail you. If your joy is diminished or your attitude is soured, go back to square one--FAITH. Let go of the feelings of injustice, hurt feelings, damaged pride, whatever...Again, the people and things that try to reduce your value do not define you, but if you will trust God, and take the high road in every situation like Joseph did, you can't help being a winner.
He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.-- Proverbs 16:20
Comments
Post a Comment