Genesis 46:1 - 47:31
Matthew 15:1 - 28
Psalm 19:1 - 14
Proverbs 4: 14 - 19
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This is a tool to help you read through the Bible in a year. Each day there is a reading from The Old Testament, The New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. There is also a place to add comments on what you've read. Just click on the date and you will see any comments posted. Click the scripture verses to read the passage.
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When I read the story of Joseph, it runs through my mind like an incredible epic. This young man, betrayed by those he loves, separated from a father who dotes on him, sold as a slave, mistreated and abused, lied about and lied to. He sinks to his lowest in prison, yet even there you can see the hand of God on his life. It makes me wonder if we don't get it wrong sometimes about what it means to have God's blessing on our lives. Joseph obviously did, yet look at all he suffered. Yet hope remains and in the end as what is most likely decades later he is in a position to punish his betrayers. He plays with them and but in the end he cannot bring himself to do but one thing: love them. The reunion with his dad is brief in scripture but it probably lasted a long time. One thing that comes to me out of this story is that when we go through the worst times of our lives God is near and going through it with us. He loves us but allows us to go through difficult circumstances. I don't pretend to understand it fully but as a father I can get a glimpse of God's purpose in suffering. It's to grow us, to develop character and strength, and to give us the ability to show compassion to others. I would love to protect my son and daughter from any and all pain in this life, but I know that act would only hurt them in the long run. The other point that I get from these verses is that Joseph did finally get to experience restoration with his father and his brothers. For the last 17 years of Jacob's life Joseph got to be with him. If you're going through tough times relationally, hang in there, because restoration is coming.
ReplyDeleteEven though times change we know how our children feel as we have suffered many of the struggles they are facing now. Without this commonality we could not be such a help to them or be able to assess their situation as well. It is along thread that is woven between us where our experience can give the cord strength but there will always be weak points and it is at these points the personal relationship with God and the independence He gives to our learning curve is invaluable!
ReplyDeleteMatthew 15:17-20
ReplyDeleteJesus asked, “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”
The Pharisees were so hung up on the specific details of sin that they had completely lost touch with their hearts and their motivation for doing things. Jesus statement here is so straight forward. He is basically saying that our hearts are where sin comes from. If the heart is bad, sin is guaranteed to flow out of it, but if the heart is good it stands a much greater chance of avoiding sin. It's so easy to lose touch with the condition of our hearts, but it really determines the course of our lives. Thank God for his Son who makes it possible for our hearts to be cleaned up and filled with natural love. I'll never stop thanking him for that!