God Is With Us - Lessons From Joseph

 

 In recent days I have been reflecting on a wonderful phrase that we often hear at Christmas - "...and they will call him Immanuel, which means, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23).

The truth is that, for those of us who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, God is with us each and every day.  How often we need to be reminded of that!

I thought about the Biblical account of a man named Joseph...not the one from the New Testament, but rather the one from the Old Testament.  You remember him.  You can read all about him in Genesis 37 - 50.  He was:

• The son who is loved most
• The brother who is sold
• The servant who is set-up and accused
• The prisoner who is forgotten
• The dreamer who is restored
• The leader who is resourceful
• The ruler who is secretive
• The dead one who is now alive
• The man who is forgiving

His was one crazy life...full of ups and downs, twists and turns, explainable and unexplainable actions...yet, through it all, one constant remained - God was with Joseph!

It is stated for us throughout his account:

"The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered..." (Genesis 39:2)

"When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes..." (Genesis 39:3-4)

"...the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything that Potiphar had..." (Genesis 39:5)

"But while Joseph was there in prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor..." (Genesis 39:20-21)

"...the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:23)

Even Pharaoh noticed it and said,

"Can we find anyone like this man (Joseph), one in whom is the Spirit of God?" (Genesis 41:38)

Joseph must have wondered what was going on in his crazy life, but he responded with an interesting attitude...it was an attitude of total trust and obedience.  He must have believed and seen that God was with him.  We never read of him complaining, whining, or crying about his circumstances.  There is never a question that he utters towards God.  Rather, there is a confidence in his God and the belief that God is working everything out for His purpose.

Listen to what he says to his brothers when he finally reveals himself to them:

"...do not be distressed and...angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." (Genesis 45:5)

"But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant in earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Genesis 45:7)

"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God." (Genesis 45:8)

"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)

Referring to how Joseph could do this, I heard Andy Stanley ask the question, "How does someone live when they realize that God is with them?"  I think the answer is, just how Joseph lived!

You see, as someone else has said, "This is not a story of the success of Joseph; rather it is a story of God's faithfulness to His promises."

Your life and my life is very similar to Joseph's...it is filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and those explainable and unexplainable actions.  So, how will you live when you realize that God is with you?  How will I?

Sitting in the seat of this wild ride that we have been on for the last 2 years, I have had to ask...how will I live when I realize that God is with me?  I have had to choose to be obedient and have total trust in my God who has said:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

You can choose this as well - because you see - this is not a story of the success of __________ (insert your name here); rather it is a story of God's faithfulness to His promises!

Your life and all that is occurring in it is telling a story about God and how He is faithful to all that He has promised to those of us that are following Him.  So live well!

"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved."

Reminders

A couple of weeks ago, we had the privilege of gathering to worship with many friends at a previous church ministry. We always enjoy returning "home" to see familiar faces and catch up on what is going on in the lives of others. As the service closed, a particular song was sung...a well known, well traveled classic..."Be Still My Soul".

Sometimes, the road that God allows us to go down is challenging...that would describe our road lately. But the truth remains that God is still at work and He is with us each step of the journey. As I listened (because I could not get anything to come from my mouth without tears), I thought on the powerful concepts contained in the words of this song. Concepts like "the Lord is on my side"; "patiently wait in difficult times"; "leave to God to order and provide"; "He will remain faithful"; "He guides in the future as He has in the past"; "don't let anything shake your confidence in Him"; "on the dark path we understand better His love and His heart"; "someday a better time and place is coming"; "praise needs to begin now and be directed to Him". Great concepts that I needed to be reminded of and hold tightly to.

Read (and maybe sing) these words for yourself right here:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
 
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
 
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
 
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Public Domain

Making Much of Him

These days I am enjoying some quality quiet time in my car during my lengthy travels back and forth to work.  It has given me the opportunity to listen to some great talks, podcasts and music.  The other evening as I made my way home I was particularly struck by a very familiar song from one of my favorite artists.  With my mind focused on this time of the year I sang along with Steven Curtis Chapman's "Much About You" and the words seemed to shine in a little different light.

As many of you may know, right about now my wife loves to have each member of our family set some goals for the new year (typical A-type)!  I always tend to hold back some, not because I don't want to accomplish anything in the coming year and not out of fear that I might possibly fail in completing my stated goals.  No, I think its simply because I am not an A-type!  I do want to have purpose in the upcoming year.  I do want to see all that God has for me.  I do want to accomplish some amazing things...but why?

I think for this coming year, more than other years in the past, I want to make much of God.  I want Him to be seen in my life (John 3:30).  I want to give Him more credit for what He is doing (Luke 5:26).  I want to be busy at the work He has given me to do, but not with the goal of bringing the attention my way, but rather His way.

So, as you read through the words of this song below, may your mind and heart be captivated as mine were and together, may we offer our lives to be taken and used to "make much of Him" in 2013.

Much Of You
"How could I stand here
And watch the sun rise
Follow the mountains
Where they touch the sky
Ponder the vastness
And the depths of the sea
And think for a moment
The point of it all was to make much of me
Cause I'm just a whisper
And You are the thunder and

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

And how can I kneel here
And think of the cross
The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear
The infinite cost
To purchase my pardon
And bear all my shame
To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name
Cause I am a sinner
And You are the Savior

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

This is Your love, oh God
Not to make much of me
But to send Your own son
So that we could make much of You
For all eternity

I want to make much of You Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You
I want to make much of You
Much of You Jesus"

Lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman
© 2004 Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp Acct) (Admin. by Wixen Music Publishing, Inc.)