Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Genesis 41:17-42-17
Matthew 13:24-46
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 4:1-6

Well I must say that yesterday's post from Jose is one tough act to follow.  What an amazing article about our Creator.  Thank you Jose for sharing it with us. 

As many of you may know, I have been blessed with the presence of my daughter, her husband, and my grandchildren.  They are with us now until they transition to a home.  It is so wonderful to have the family united once again.

Tuesday's reading from Genesis about Joseph and the tribulations he suffered because of his brothers jealousy shows how a family can be torn apart.  Joseph was his father's favorite.  So the brothers plotted to kill him but instead sold him to the Midianite merchants for twenty shekels of silver.  But God had given Joseph the ability to interpret dreams.  He was brought before Pharaoh and explained to him what his dreams meant.  Because of this God given ability Pharaoh presented him with such authority, wealth and power that Joseph could never have imagined.  He gave him authority over Egypt to save the land from a seven year famine as described in Pharaoh's dreams.

How bittersweet it must have been for Joseph to once again face the brothers who sold him when they came to buy food so that their family would not die.  Joseph did not bend easily.  He did not even reveal to them that he was their brother.  He let them sweat it out a bit. 

There are so many things that can tear a family apart.  But we as believers continue to pray that God will intervene to bring our families together as a strong unit as He eventually did with Joseph's family.  Our hearts must align with the will of God to forgive, forget and to love as He so loved us.

We must also always be aware that the evil one will constantly and continuously try to destroy our relationship with the Lord.  He plants evil thoughts and feelings in us - just like the weeds planted in a field of good grain while everyone is sleeping. 

Matthew 20:37-39 - He answered, "the one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom.  The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.  The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels."

He who has ears - let him hear; let us all be good seeds in the field and grow strong with one another.  Peace be with you!