Special Treatment

Special Treatment

Genesis 37: ³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. ⁴ But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

 

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Israel did not hold back in showing his love for Joseph. He carefully made a tunic of many colors. His brothers hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

 

My Observations:

• Israel’s special treatment of Joseph contributed to the brother’s envy.
• Israel spent money, time and effort making a very special tunic.
• Joseph’s brothers hated him and could only say negative words about him.

 

Joseph was not naïve as one would think. He knew his brothers spoke differently to each other than to him. He probably felt their hatred day after day after day. He did not have friends because he lived in the land of the Canaanites. Israel may have warned Joseph about staying with GOD.

 

Joseph and Israel may have had many conversations about GOD. This shaped who Joseph was. But the brothers hated seeing this special relationship, some more than others. GOD was with Joseph even at a young age.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Israel's special treatment to Joseph and how the brothers felt?
• Have you ever felt jealous of someone who seemed to receive special treatment?
• Do you know that GOD sees you as someone very special to HIM and is giving you special treatment that you may not see?

Seeing Beyond Distractions

Seeing Beyond Distractions

2 Corinthians 11: I wish you would tolerate me, even when I am a bit foolish. Please do! ² I am jealous for you, just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself. ³ I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ—in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies. ⁴ For you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us!

 

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“Why is he talking to me?” I thought to myself as the playground thug stopped me to ask very random questions. I was taking a different route home I usually did not take. He was being oddly nice for a change. Other thugs, who were within sight, began to giggle.

 

I expected being pushed or punched so I braced myself. After the brief conversation, they walked away. Someone said to me, “They were practicing picking your pocket. Didn’t you feel the guy rummaging through your coat?” I did not.

 

• When I get distracted I can be deceived.
• I was too busy looking at the problem to see the deception.
• Instead of staying on the path home, I went to a place where I let the deception happen.

 

Paul tried to soften the blow that people were being deceived into believing a false gospel of salvation. He was afraid that their minds would be corrupted and the pure devotion to CHRIST would be abandoned in trade of another lesser spirit.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to remain focused on JESUS as the only way to salvation.
• GOD wants me to accept the promise HE has for me, to be with me for eternity.
• GOD wants me to remain devoted to CHRIST as my Savior.

 

Distractions are in abundance these days. I mean anyone could raise up a cause and speak boldly about it and be justified in what is being said. BUT GOD wants me to surrender my life to the one and only truth, namely JESUS.

 

When I can name a human or a group of humans as having “the answer” I fall prey to being distracted from the purpose GOD created me for. I lose sight that I am here for one reason, that is to be pleasing to GOD. I then try to make GOD bow down to my path and decisions BUT HE laughs at the attempt. I am glad JESUS saved me from myself and those who try to steal GOD’s title of being the MOST HIGH.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the concern of the writer?
• What do you notice about the mind in this passage?
• Will you look beyond the distractions of your circumstances and be led by the HOLY SPIRIT, who was sent by JESUS to live inside those who believe in HIM as the one and only true Savior today?

Guard My House

Matthew 24: ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

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“Have a drink” one person exclaimed. Laughter filled the air as the libations were poured out. I did not like the taste but I indulged. Later that evening we played drunk games. While I wasn’t drunk, I indulged. I mean it looked like “fun” and perhaps leading to sex!

• Many times I let my guards down.
• Many times I have opened the door to my heart to things that should not be there.
• Many times I went to sleep when I should have stayed awake, guarding my house.

Nothing good ever came out of letting my guards down, not even for a minute. Whatever I was running away from was still there the next day and then I may have added guilt on top of my problem. What am I supposed to do?

• GOD says to me “Be ready” so I should stop looking for “me” and seek HIS face.
• GOD says to me “The SON of man will come” so I should expect HIS return.
• GOD says to me “I will return when you do not expect ME.”

Readiness is not easy, but necessary. I mean I sin, but I sure would like to be caught in the act of serving someone versus harming them. Being ready makes me do the things GOD wants me to do instead of the things I shouldn’t place in my heart. HE guides me to a better place when I guard my heart.

• Are you giving up on GOD?
• Do you feel you “deserve” to sin a little?
• Can you stop feeling sorry for yourself and get back to the strength which is following CHRIST?