USE YOUR GIFTEDNESS

 

USE YOUR GIFTEDNESS

Gen. 40:8 And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but there is no one here to tell us what they mean.” “Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Tell me what you saw.” NLT

The cupbearer and chief baker had gotten on Pharaoh’s bad side. They were cast into the prison where Joseph was being kept. They had been in prison for quite some time and one night they both had dreams that they did not understand. They were troubled and it showed. Joseph noticed the way they looked and asked them what was wrong. Although he was in prison for something he did not do, Joseph did not wallow around in self-pity. He reached out in compassion to the cupbearer and the chief baker.

Joseph did not take credit for something that he had no control over. God had given him a gift of interpreting dreams and he gave the credit where the credit is due. He acknowledged that it was from God, not him. No one deserves or can take credit for the gifts God gives them. God disperses gifts for His purposes and will. We are just caretakers and managers of them.

Joseph had an opportunity to do good and he seized it. He could have not gotten involved and simply let his fellow prisoners rot in the prison with him, but he didn’t. He preferred to be part of the solution than the problem; he used his gift for the good. We, too, need to use our gifts for the good and give the glory to God. We need to not sit idly by and let others suffer due to our lack of involvement. God uses those who are willing to be used. Let the Lord have His way with you and make a difference for Him in the world you live in.

SHINE WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

 

SHINE WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

Gen. 39:19-21 After hearing his wife’s story, Potiphar was furious! He took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the kings’ prisoners were held. But the Lord was with Joseph there, too, and he granted Joseph favor with the chief jailer. NLT

Potiphar reacted like most men would when confronted with the fact that someone had tried to take advantage of his wife. He listened to his wife’s story and believed her. He did not hesitate to check out the facts; instead. he immediately went into a rage and had Joseph put into prison. He didn’t stop to think about how outstanding Joseph had proven to be or how trustworthy he had proven himself to be. He didn’t even think about whether or not he was innocent or guilty. He was guilty simply because his wife said he was.

Maybe you have been on the bad end of things through no fault of your own. Perhaps you have been accused of things you have not done and been found guilty of them. Perhaps no one even bothered to listen to your side of the story. It is an awful situation to be in. It hurts deeply that you had been wrongly accused and not give a chance to explain your side of the story.

How did Joseph handle the situation? He did not linger in self-pity. He did not give up. He continued doing what he had been doing all along; he served the Lord where he was planted. He did not choose to be thrust into a prison. If he had a choice in the matter, I am quite sure he would not have gone there. In fact, it wasn’t all that long ago that he had been thrown into a pit by his brothers and sold to a group of travelers passing through on their way to Egypt. He did not let his circumstances stop him from doing what was right before God. He discovered God was with him where he was at. He made the most of the situation and served the Lord where he was at. And soon, he shined brightly in his new surroundings.

No matter what your circumstances may be, do what is right before God. Let your light shine where you are and you, too, will find favor with the Lord.

FLEEING TEMPTATION

 

FLEEING TEMPTATION

Gen. 39: 11-12 One day, however, no one else was around when he was doing his work inside the house. She came and grabbed him by his shirt, demanding, “Sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but as he did, his shirt came off. She was left holding it as he ran from the house. NLT

Potiphar’s wife had been lusting after Joseph for a while. He was a handsome young man and she imagined what it would be like to sleep with him. She had a sinful heart and was not satisfied with the life she shared with Potiphar. She tried several times to seduce him, but to no avail. Then the day came when she had her chance to be alone with Joseph and she put on the pressure.

Most young, single men would have a hard time resisting the temptation. No one else was in the house, no one would ever know. In the face of such aggression, I am sure Joseph’s hormones would have been raging. Yet, Joseph was not like most young men. He did not see his situation as an opportunity to enjoy sin’s pleasures; he saw it as an opportunity to sin against God. He loved the Lord and daily sought to please Him and Joseph knew that such an act would not please God at all. In fact, being with Potiphar’s wife would bring him much guilt and shame before God. For Joseph, the price was way too steep. He would rather do what is right before God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure.

Joseph did not stay around to discuss the issue or reason things out. He knew he had to flee his temptation and do it now. He ran from Potiphar’s wife, leaving his shirt behind him. She did not take this rejection lightly and immediately spread lies about Joseph, claiming he had tried to seduce her and ran when she screamed for help.

The time to determine to do what is right before God is before we are tempted, not when we are being tempted. We need to resolve in our hearts and minds that we are not going to sin against God and mean it. Understanding that sin’s momentary pleasures set us at odds with God ought to cause us to want not to sin. Determine in your heart today that you will not sin against God and flee from that which tempts you. You will be blessed by God and glad you did.

GETTING NOTICED

 

GETTING NOTICED

Gen. 39:2-3 The LORD was with Joseph and blessed him greatly as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. NLT

Who doesn’t like to be noticed? Most people want others to acknowledge their existence and will do things to make sure that others know they exist. Most of the things that get people noticed are bad. Bad things make the headlines. Bad characters stand out from the crowd. We feast on the bad things people do. Who doesn’t read the local paper or listen to the news without an interest in what someone has done wrong or said? The more popular a person is, the more their bad side makes the news. It is those who entertain sinfully that are most popular.

Most of the time when a person does good things, it goes unnoticed. Good deeds are taken for granted and seldom get recognized or acknowledged. When a person never seems to get noticed, they tend to do something that will get them noticed.

Joseph was a young man blessed by God. He always tried to do the right thing. He was successful in the carrying out of his duties. He stood out, not for his bad side, but for his good side. Potiphar, his master, even noticed the hand of God on him. Even though he was not a believer, Potiphar was impressed by Joseph’s goodness. It makes me wonder about our goodness.

Is being noticed a big deal for you? What do people notice about you, your goodness or your bad side? Are you striving to please the Lord in all you do? It should be enough for the Lord to notice you. Nothing you do escapes His notice. He blesses those who strive to do and be good in all they do.

SHARE THE WORD

 

SHARE THE WORD

Gen. 37:5,9a One night Joseph had a dream and promptly reported the details to his brothers, causing them to hate him even more.....Then Joseph had another dream and told his brothers about it..… NLT

God had revealed to Joseph what was going to happen in his life. He let Joseph know that he would rise up to a position of prominence and power and would rule over his family. It was not uncommon for God to speak to certain people before Jesus came in dreams, visions, through angels, and sometimes verbally. God spoke to those who would fill a specific role in helping the nation of Israel be a people of God. He raised up prophets, judges, kings, etc. from all walks of life to serve Him in influential positions from amongst His people.

Joseph shared with his brothers, and then his father, what he had dreamed. They did not dismiss his dreams. Instead, they took them to be what they were, predictions of what was to come. This did not sit well with his brothers; they were already jealous of the way Jacob treated him and their emotions toward him turned to hatred.

There will always be those who won’t like it when we share with them what God is doing and will do in the future. It is not unusual for some people to downright hate us because we speak the truth. People take offense at the Gospel because no one wants to hear that they are not good enough for heaven. No one wants to be told they are heading for hell. The Gospel message is offensive to the world; it always has been and always will be.

Yet, we should never not share the Gospel just because some do not accept it. We should never allow those who oppose the Gospel to quiet us. We are mandated by God to share the Gospel with the world. If we don’t, we are disobeying God and will answer to Him for it. We can’t help how people will receive the Word of God; that is between them and God. Tell whoever you can, whenever you can, the Good News. God has promised that it will not return to Him void. It will always do well, whether we see the good or not. There are some people who will only hear and respond to the Gospel if YOU tell them because of your connection to them or your particular personality. Don’t let anyone go to hell because you did not do your part.

THE NEW YOU

 

THE NEW YOU

Gen. 35:9-10 God appeared to Jacob once again when he arrived at Bethel after traveling from Paddam-aram. God blessed him and said, “Your name is no longer Jacob; you will now be called Israel.” NLT

Something had happened to Jacob, something life-changing. Jacob was a successful man. He had accumulated much wealth, had a large family, much livestock, and was relatively at peace with God. Yet, God knew that Jacob was not where he should be with Him so He spoke to him upon several occasions. God had reminded him of His promise to bless Abraham’s seed and that it would now be through him. God was constantly at work in Jacob’s life to make him into a servant who would love and honor Him. Jacob finally arrived and God blessed him with a new name, a name that depicted his new character and life.

What has the Lord been doing in your life to change you? Are you the same person you have always been, or is there marked improvements in your character and living? God does not give up on us even when we give up on ourselves. He knows who we can be and persistently works to help us become that person. As long as we don’t resist Him, God will make us into servants who will honor Him and love Him in all we do.

God promises to make us new creations in Him, but He won’t do it without our cooperation. If you are not the person you know you should, or could be, then you need to pause and admit to the Lord your resistance, ask Him to forgive you for being so stubborn, and give Him all your heart, mind, and soul. If you do, you will soon see the new you begin to happen and you will be very pleased, as will God who wants nothing but the best for you.

LISTEN TO GOD

 

LISTEN TO GOD

Gen. 35:1 God said to Jacob, “Now move on to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to worship me—the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.” NLT

When God speaks, do you listen? Has God laid on your heart things to do and you are dragging your feet? What is keeping you from obeying the Lord? What is keeping you from trusting Him?

God has a plan for you. He knows where you need to be in order to fulfill that plan. He knows that until you cooperate and obey Him, things won’t go as well for you as they could and should. He knows you will be happiest when you obey Him. He knows what a difference you will make in the world when you obey Him. So, He is calling to you, “Trust and obey, me. Just do what I am telling you to do. I will be there with you and for you. Don’t delay; just do it. And when you get off your duff and obey Me, be sure to first pause to worship Me.”

Worship draws us closer to God. It draws our attention to Him. It helps us to have a purpose and meaning for what we do. It’s all about the Lord. Whatever we do in life, if we do it for the Lord’s honor and glory, He will bless it. Listen to God and obey Him. You will be glad you did.