Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Living with no excuses”
Our Bible verse for today: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “God is up to something.”
The story of Joseph in the Old Testament book of Genesis is one of the most inspiring examples in the Bible of living with no excuses. Joseph certainly did have good reasons to slip into a pity party of feeling sorry for himself, and to blame his problems on everyone else. He could have done that but he didn’t.
Joseph was hated by his older brothers. At one point they beat him up, threw him down a well, and then sold him into slavery in Egypt. Joseph spent years as a slave in the house of a high government official, and then more years in prison after having been falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. For thirteen long years Joseph’s situation was bleak and difficult. Finally God orchestrated events in his life that elevated him to the second highest position in all of Egypt. Joseph then ended up rescuing his brothers and their families from a great famine in their homeland. You can read the entire story in Genesis chapters 37-50.
Yes, Joseph had plenty of reasons to just curl up in the fetal position and spend the rest of his life whimpering and whining about unfair it all was. Instead he accepted his situation for what it was, he determined that with God’s help he would handle it in a way that honored God, and he would trust God for the ultimate resolution.
When we’re faced with tough times in life the temptation is to use those tough times as an excuse to either give-up altogether, or to whimper and whine and blame others. That’s never how God wants us to handle it. Joseph knew that God was always with Him and that he could trust God without exception. So he resolved to simply do his part as best he could, and to trust God for the rest. We can and should do that too.
Your situation is what it is. Resolve to deal with it in a dignified, confident, God-honoring manner. God used Joseph’s difficult situation to ultimately accomplish great things. He can do the same with your situation if you will trust Him and remain faithful to Him.
I encourage you to take the time to read Joseph’s entire story in Genesis chapters 37-50. God included it in the Bible as an example for us. In 2018 you will face challenging situations. We all will. Resolve in advance that you will honor God with the way you handle it. No giving up. No excuses.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 