The Loving Faithfulness of God - Genesis 41-42 and Matthew 12:1-23
I pray that each of us has come to realize just how much God loves us and how faithful He is to us. Often, Satan tries to tells us that God doesn't care about us and that God is not interested in blessing us. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Joseph's life is a great example of the love and faithfulness of God. God took care of Joseph throughout his time of slavery and prison. Then, after 13 years God promoted him to second in command in the most powerful country in the world. God did this because Joseph trusted Him, gave Him the glory for showing him the meaning of the dreams, and gave Pharaoh God's wisdom about how to handle the famine. In other words, Joseph never gave up on God. He knew God was faithful and loving, even when it seemed otherwise. The same is true when he encountered his brothers. What did he remember when he saw them? He remembered the dreams with his brothers bowing to him, and he realized God had been faithful. Look at what he named his sons, if you have any question about this. Do you know that God loves you, and He has been faithful to you? The only question is, "Have you been faithful to Him?"
In Matthew 12 Jesus allows His disciples to eat grain by rubbing it in their hands on the Sabbath. He knew this would bring the wrath of the Jewish leaders, but He cared more about the needs of His disciples than their human rules and ridicule. Then, He healed a man on the Sabbath, even though they were against that, too. Why? Jesus is all about love and faithfulness. Yes, He honors God's Word, but He does not do things man's way. God's Word stresses the need for mercy and love. Jesus always reaches out to the underdog. He does not crush people. He lifts them up. (v.20) I pray that you know Jesus in this way. If not, you may be like Joseph's brothers. You may be guilty of something before God that you need to confess to Him. He may be bringing some distress on you to show you the sin in your life. If that is the case, turn to God in repentance and confession, so you can live under the full love and faithfulness of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 43-45 and Matthew 12:24-50.
Joseph's life is a great example of the love and faithfulness of God. God took care of Joseph throughout his time of slavery and prison. Then, after 13 years God promoted him to second in command in the most powerful country in the world. God did this because Joseph trusted Him, gave Him the glory for showing him the meaning of the dreams, and gave Pharaoh God's wisdom about how to handle the famine. In other words, Joseph never gave up on God. He knew God was faithful and loving, even when it seemed otherwise. The same is true when he encountered his brothers. What did he remember when he saw them? He remembered the dreams with his brothers bowing to him, and he realized God had been faithful. Look at what he named his sons, if you have any question about this. Do you know that God loves you, and He has been faithful to you? The only question is, "Have you been faithful to Him?"
In Matthew 12 Jesus allows His disciples to eat grain by rubbing it in their hands on the Sabbath. He knew this would bring the wrath of the Jewish leaders, but He cared more about the needs of His disciples than their human rules and ridicule. Then, He healed a man on the Sabbath, even though they were against that, too. Why? Jesus is all about love and faithfulness. Yes, He honors God's Word, but He does not do things man's way. God's Word stresses the need for mercy and love. Jesus always reaches out to the underdog. He does not crush people. He lifts them up. (v.20) I pray that you know Jesus in this way. If not, you may be like Joseph's brothers. You may be guilty of something before God that you need to confess to Him. He may be bringing some distress on you to show you the sin in your life. If that is the case, turn to God in repentance and confession, so you can live under the full love and faithfulness of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 43-45 and Matthew 12:24-50.