Undeserved Favor Again

Undeserved Favor Again

Genesis 47: ⁵ Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. ⁶ The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.”

 

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After Joseph’s brothers told Pharaoh that they were shepherds, Pharaoh told Joseph to give them the “best of the land.” He also asked if there were others and if so, make them chief herdsmen.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph’s brothers hated him, BUT GOD showed them favor despite their actions.
• Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, BUT GOD raised Joseph to rule over Egypt.
• Joseph’s brothers lied about what they did as a cover up, BUT GOD blessed them to have the best land in Egypt during a famine that was causing people to starve.

 

There was nothing the brothers did to deserve this much favor. BUT GOD used their evil for good. This is an important lesson for us. We may talk bad about oppressors or avoid patching up a relationship, thinking we are doing the right thing.

 

GOD’s ways are higher than our ways. HE sees solutions way beyond the current situation. HE gave grace and favor to people who could care less about changing. HE did this for the ultimate purpose of saving you and me. If HE wiped out evil people, there would be no human who could open the scroll that sentenced Satan and redeemed humans. GOD sees around our shortcomings to achieve a greater purpose. That’s favor.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the favorable statement given by Pharaoh?
• Have you ever received favor and thought it was because you were temporarily being good?
• Can you praise GOD today for the undeserved favor in your life?

Undeserved Favor

Undeserved Favor

¹⁴ Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. ¹⁵ Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

 

¹⁶ Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. ¹⁷ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the ^[c]fat of the land. ¹⁹ Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. ²⁰ Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

 

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During Joseph’s big reveal of his identity to his brothers, his weeping was so loud that all the Egyptians around him could hear. News made it to Pharaoh’s house making him aware that Joseph had long-lost brothers. Pharaoh told his brothers that he would give them the best land.

 

My Observations:

• Pharoah saw the power of GOD through Joseph and probably wanted more power so he gave the brothers the best land.
• Pharaoh was inviting towards Joseph’s family possibly for his own selfish reasons, but little did he know it was part of GOD’s plan.
• Joseph’s family was about to experience a luxurious lifestyle despite their hateful, jealous, lying and blaming ways.

 

Jacob, who was renamed to Israel, was a deceiver. His son’s murdered a town of men and raided the town of everything. They also planned out the murder of their own brother. BUT GOD made a promise to Abraham that HE would keep. HE saw the sins of Israel, his son’s sins, your sins and mine and forgave us through belief in JESUS.

 

Sometimes we try to think that life can be “fair,” but if it were, we would already be eternally condemned. We don’t want fair, we want grace and mercy. Joseph’s pain was now turned into provision for his entire family. Even Pharaoh, who looked at himself as a god, recognized the power of the MOST HIH GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Pharaoh’s decree?
• Have you ever experienced undeserved favor?
• Is your focus on blame or blessings from GOD?

I Ain ’t In It!

 

I Ain ’t In It!

Revelation 18: ⁹ The kings of the earth who took part in her immorality and lust will cry and weep over the city when they see the smoke from the flames that consume her. ¹⁰ They stand a long way off, because they are afraid of sharing in her suffering. They say, “How terrible! How awful! This great and mighty city Babylon! In just one hour you have been punished!”

 

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Getting caught in the act made me feel uncomfortable. I looked at others who were involved to speak up but no one stepped up. When I went to one guy, he said “My name is Bennet, I Ain ‘t  in it!” as if to say, I have nothing to do with your punishment! Ain ‘t is slang for “am not.”

 

• I wanted others to join in with me, so maybe my punishment would be milder.
• I wanted someone else to speak up so perhaps my punishment would go away.
• I actually did not know what I was expecting by asking guilty people for help to jump in when I was caught.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was shown the fall of the great city that caused people to sin. Those who had joined in sexual sin mourned over the great punishment imposed on the city. But they stood off in the distance, afraid of sharing in the suffering.

 

My Observations:

• There is strength in numbers until “I” get caught doing something.
• I feel comfortable when “everyone” else is doing the same bad thing that I want to do.
• My best path is to stay away from doing the thing in the first place.

 

Risking getting caught is not the problem, rather doing the thing I would get caught doing, in the first place is the problem. Did I say that right? I mean, I should fear doing the thing that upsets GOD in the first place rather than fearing the consequence of my sinful action.

 

Before I commit the act, I should ask myself, “Is this worth losing everything over this moment of pleasure or this act of hatred?” “NO!” should be the answer. GOD gives me a way out that the tempting great city does not offer. HE provides forgiveness where the tempting city provides death. I choose JESUS for my forgiveness.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer include the distance of the guilty people from the great city?
• Have you ever gotten caught for something you did wrong?
• Will you learn from your mistakes and stay away from easy sin so you will not have to face consequences today?

Victory Found

Victory Found

2 Timothy 4: ⁶ As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life. ⁷ I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith. ⁸ And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day—and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.

 

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Looking for a “win”, I joined various groups, followed certain sports teams and even competed. Sometimes my team won, which made me feel better as a human for some reason, and sometimes my team lost. When I won a bowling trophy, I wanted another. After a while, I wanted more and more trophies and awards in life.

 

• I wanted to feel like I was getting ahead.
• I guess I just wanted to feel special for a moment.
• I wanted to have a bright shiny moment in my life that was sometimes filled with hurt, and pain.

 

Paul tells Timothy this is the end of his life. He mentions that he has participated in the greatest competition, namely the fight against evil. He also mentions that he is on the winning side and has a “victory prize” waiting for him in heaven.

 

My Observations

• Friendly human competitions are alright BUT GOD wants me to join the competition against the evil one.
• JESUS has already won the victory, so HE wants me to join the side that already won so I can receive my prize.
• GOD wants me to “wait with love’ until the Day JESUS returns.

 

Waiting on JESUS is hard, especially during times when it seems like evil is rampant. I mean, the world seems to have lost its mind! BUT GOD sees all the violence, hurt and pain. Instead of competing with one another HE wants something different.

 

Waiting with love is different than being nervous that my moment here on earth has not happened yet. It means I will keep showing love to those HE sends me to or who HE sends to me. It also means that even though life can be hard, GOD still wants me to join in on HIS victorious side and do my part with love. I gladly join GOD and know my victory has already happened.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer feels satisfied?
• Are you disappointed with your accomplishments?
• Instead of looking at your situation, will you love someone who GOD wants you to show love to and keep pressing forward in the “race” of life by seeking HIS Kingdom today?

Entitlement

Entitlement

John 12: ¹⁴ Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

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“Could you tell that person they are sitting in ‘my’ seat?” I said to the flight attendant.  I wanted to say “How dare you sit in ‘my’ first class seat” to the person, but figured it would come out wrong. I had flown a lot so I “deserved” this upgrade. The flight was two hours.

• There were times when I liked rules that helped me get what I “deserved.”
• There were times when I got excited about programs that awarded me privileges that I could complain to someone about if I didn’t get them.
• There were times when it was exciting to travel first class, even when it was a short trip.

JESUS had walked miles and miles to get to the city. Once people saw HIM they cheered and threw palms down so HE would not continue to soil HIS feet. HE then got on a small donkey and rode a very short distance into Jerusalem. This was the entry of a King?

• JESUS wants me to see HIS humbleness.
• JESUS wants me to see HIS restraint.
• JESUS wants me to see HIS control over HIS power.

Entitlement creates rage. I mean when I think I “deserve” something better from someone and don’t get it, I get enraged. BUT JESUS showed me a different example. HE deserved everyone bowing down to HIM, yet HIS announcement that HE is King, was celebrated by some, but not all.

HE is GOD. HE is all powerful, all seeing, all knowing, yet HE took the lowest position as a human and was blamed by the church leaders for the sins of all mankind. I am grateful HE is the one who saved me. I am entitled to nothing.

• What do you think you are entitled to?
• Do you get enraged when someone is not acting the way you think they should?
• Will you take time to observe the humility of JESUS today?

Convincing and Deserving

Luke 7: Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. ² And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. ³ So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, ⁵ “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”

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Bargaining was all I had left. I sat and replayed my story over and over, trying to get the words straight, but the pressures of life kept creeping in my head. Finally, I thought of what I would say… “LORD, why?” “I’m good!” “I did x, yesterday, y last week and z years ago.” “Why am I still having problems.”

• There are times when I want to convince GOD that I am good.
• There are times when I want to tell GOD about what I have done for HIM.
• There are times when I want to let GOD know I deserve better because I have been “good.”

The centurion was a wealthy, connected man. He learned how to get things done by having people speak on his behalf. But he did not know who he was approaching. He sent who he thought would convince JESUS to do his bidding. He asked church leaders to speak on his behalf because he did not know where to turn.

• GOD wants me to see HIM as the first plan, not the last resort.
• GOD wants me to recognize that I do not deserve better treatment but I can humbly ask for it.
• GOD wants me to seek HIM for myself, especially when I do not feel worthy.

Convincing GOD that I deserve better treatment counters what HE thinks of humans. HIS declaration that any human who is a physical descendant of Adam and Eve is born into sin. BUT JESUS was conceived spiritually and qualified to redeem the world.

JESUS is my Savior and nothing I can say or do can convince HIM I am good. HE is the one who makes me good because HE died and is now alive for me.

• Are you trying to bargain with GOD?
• Do you feel you deserve better?
• Can you admit you may not deserve to have your problem fixed, but ask GOD to grant you grace in exchange for your praise?

Same Wage

Matthew 20: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ² He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

³ “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ⁴ He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ ⁵ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. ⁶ About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

⁷ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

⁸ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

⁹ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. ¹⁰ So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ¹² ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

¹³ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

¹⁶ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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“How are we getting the same pay?” I exclaimed in my mind. This guy does nothing but play golf and guess at things, then he comes to me for answers!

• I have been jealous over some else’s position.
• I have been upset over someone else’s rewards.
• I have been envious when someone gets treated the same as me for doing less.

JESUS says “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” This story sounded unfair at first but HE was speaking of the kingdom of heaven in which no one deserved it at all. In heaven people will look over at me and say “How in the world did this person get in?”

JESUS wants me to accept my wages gratefully, so much so that I go out and recruit more workers for the vineyard.

• Are you jealous over what others are receiving?
• Do you feel that you should have more and are mad at GOD?
• Can you drop your anger and allow GOD to bless you and receive thanks from you?

An Undeserved Reward

Isaiah 61: ⁷ Instead of your shame
    you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

⁸ “For I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

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Struggling to find the correct answer, I simply could not get the mathematics right. I turned in my test and walked away with a sinking feeling. A few days later when I got the test back, I was shocked to see an “A” on the top. The teacher dug through my work and saw where I made my multiplication error and gave me full credit for the problem.

• Life has many problems.
• Life sometimes is a struggle to be perfect and correct.
• Life can have moments of shame, loss or pain.

Just like the math problem, there were times in my life where I tried to get everything right, but missed something and got “it” wrong. Then when I would try to correct the flub, the bell would ring and the period would be over. Will my sins be permanent? No!

• GOD says to me “Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion.”
• GOD says to me “Instead of your disgrace you will receive in your inheritance.”
• GOD says to me “Everlasting Joy will be yours.”

The LORD loves justice and HE is the only one who is just. HE hates those who are robbers of peace and providers of wrongdoing. HE pardons me for all my wrongs and does something spectacular. HE rewards me instead of punishing me because of HIS faithfulness. GOD has removed my disgrace and shown to people HE is the way!

• Do you feel disgraced?
• Do you feel like hiding?
• Can you come out of hiding and proclaim GOD?
• Will you shout how great GOD is instead of complaining today?