Pain Demonstration

Pain Demonstration

Genesis 44: And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. ² Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. ³ As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. ⁴ When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? ⁵ Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ ”

 

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After the feast, Joseph had the steward of the house fill his brothers’ sacks with food and money again, just like last time. But this time he gave special instructions to add his silver cup to Benjamin’s sack. Joseph also staged a pretense with the steward of the house.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph had a plan to set up his brothers by making them look like thieves.
• Joseph may have wanted them to see how it felt to be in danger, or possibly killed.
• Joseph had no intention of harming his brothers, but may have wanted to let them know that what they did was not right.

 

Vengeance would have been easy for Joseph. He could have had them all thrown in prison for the rest of his life, but that is not what GOD wanted. Even through Joseph’s pain, he had GOD guiding him. He was working through this deep hurt, so he set his brothers up.

 

What would you do? I would probably do the same. Joseph missed out on being with his father for decades, due to their jealousy. His plan to make them feel embarrassed could not erase the cruelty they placed on him. Joseph also made it look like his power for seeing the future came from a cup. This would have been typical for an Egyptian as they worshipped inanimate objects.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s plan to embarrass his brothers?
• Have you ever been put in a spot where you could get revenge?
• Will you let go of getting revenge and allow GOD to take care of the situation HIS way and in HIS time?

Healing Brokenness Plan

Healing Brokenness Plan

Ephesians 1: In all his wisdom and insight ⁹ God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. ¹⁰ This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.

 

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Plans are wonderful to me! I love getting a plan from people who have been where I am trying to go. I can get the steps, follow them and celebrate when I make it to the destination.

 

• Plans make it easier for me to keep going when things seem to be going wrong.
• I feel more confident when I am following a plan.
• Some of the steps of many plans did not make sense until the entire plan unfolded.

 

Paul talks about GOD’s “secret plan.” He explains that one part of the plan as been revealed to humanity, namely JESUS died for the sins of the world. What looked like a FATHER punishing HIS SON for being perfect turned out to be only part of the story. The true plan was to “bring all creation together”  with CHRIST as head.

 

My Observations

• GOD saw my brokenness and decided to do something about it.
• JESUS volunteered HIS life to heal me forever.
• All of creation waits on the rest of GOD’s plan which includes placing everything under JESUS.

 

This plan is amazing! I mean, it shows unimaginable love for a creation who turns its back to the creator at a moment’s notice. GOD could not depend on our faith, so HE devised a plan to redeem broken, lost humans through JESUS. JESUS volunteered to lose everything and in the process, gained everything.

 

One part of the plan is still in motion. One day JESUS will return and everything that is broken will be healed under HIM. All questions about “Why did GOD do this in the first place?” will be answered. Until then, I gladly accept the incredible love HE has shown for me.

 

Challenge

• Does the plan the writer speaks of, make you nervous or excited?
• What part of your actions do you see in this plan?
• If you are trying too hard to please GOD, will you accept that HIS plan includes your life and will not fail, because HE has already given everything to JESUS whom you believe in?

Understanding Power

Understanding Power

Acts 5: ¹² And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴ And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

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“Don’t worry. I have your back” one leader told me. Not knowing how the system worked, I still wondered if I was going to get what I wanted. I acted extra “leader-ish.” Days seemed like weeks but the announcement finally came out. I was the new leader. When I saw how powerful the person was who got me the position, I wanted to bring more people to them for promotions and guidance.

• There were times when I did not understand power.
• There were times when I saw power in action.
• There were times when I wanted the power I saw.

Many signs and wonders were performed by the apostles. After a while the people started holding them in “high esteem.” They knew something special was going on and they brought the sick and those who were oppressed by demons. The people believed and all were healed.

• GOD wants me to see HIM as the only source of power.
• GOD wants me to understand that all power comes from HIM.
• GOD wants me to recognize that every request has to go before HIS throne for permission.

Recognizing where true power comes from is a big problem. I mean I used to look at humans with titles, thinking they had power to oppress or help many people. BUT GOD opened my eyes to HIS unmatched power, showing me that there is nothing that is done without HIS permission.

This understanding made me dig a little deeper into a question. “Why do bad things happen?” GOD told humans the answer, but we fail to believe HIM. HE said He threw Satan out of heaven to this earth. When humans sinned, GOD cursed the earth and our relationship with HIM was broken. BUT GOD made a way back to HIM through JESUS. I recognize HIS power and accept it.

• Are you placing all of your belief in humans?
• Do you spend most of your time watching people with titles and degrees, placing your hope only in them?
• Will you turn to GOD and place your total hope in HIM today?

Fatally Right

Luke 14: Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. ² And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. ³ And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

⁴ But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. ⁵ Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” ⁶ And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

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After the rededication I felt something needed to change in my life. I decided not to do certain things I categorized as “sin.” I did notice positive changes in my life so I decided to “make” others do the same.

When they did not respond well, I pointed out what the Bible said about the topic at hand. Not only did they stop listening to me, they went further in the opposite direction I was trying to steer them to.

• There have been many times when I judged people’s actions.
• There have been many times when I watched people to see if they were doing as “I” expected them to do.
• There were times when I thought “If people would just follow every word in the Bible, then they would be fine.”

Incapable of being righteous, the church leaders placed heavy burdens on the people to be “perfect” according to their made up rules. When JESUS went to their house and healed on the Sabbath, there was no rejoicing over another human who was made whole. There was silence. JESUS then challenged their interpretation of the law of the Sabbath and further silenced them.

• JESUS wants me to study HIS word in order to bring people together.
• JESUS wants me to understand HIS grace in order to restore people back to HIM.
• JESUS wants me to learn of HIM so I can grasp the grace and mercy HE has shown me.

Knowing the Bible is one thing, knowing why the Bible is here is another. Simply put, GOD recounts how HE has shown love to a world HE cursed. With Satan’s decision to “be GOD”, Satan was thrown out of heaven to the world, and he tried to ruin humans. GOD has already redeemed mankind through JESUS and desires my free will to choose HIS gift of grace.

• Are you full of pride that you have reduced a few sins?
• Are you fooling yourself about your righteousness?
• Can you seek grace and mercy even for those you feel do not deserve it?
• Will you seek restoration versus segregation today?