Aug 27 2024

Today's Bible Verse

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

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In this verse from Genesis, Joseph is speaking to his brothers who had betrayed him years before. They sold him into slavery in Egypt because they were jealous of him, but, through a series of trials and miracles, Joseph had risen to second in command of all of Egypt.

When a famine strikes, Joseph's brothers, not recognizing him, ask for grain. When he reveals himself, they are overwhelmed. Joseph tells them that although they meant to harm him, the Lord had used their actions to bring about good—he was able to save his family when the famine hit. This encourages us that the Lord brings good out of everything.

Joseph walked a very difficult path. He was abused by his brothers, enslaved at age 17, rose through the ranks, was falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison for many years, and finally, after interpreting a dream for Pharoah, was appointed to his high post in Egypt, where he flourishes and saves the land from ruin during a famine.

When Joseph sees his brothers asking for grain, he gets a glimpse into what the Lord's plan had been all along. He could see that the trials he faced were not random, but were instead handpicked by the Lord to prepare him for his future. The Lord had planned everything for good.

If you have ever felt like your pain and suffering were random and pointless, remember the story of Joseph. Nothing he endured was wasted; everything was leading to a specific point in time when he would save the line of Israel. You do not know what the Lord is preparing you for, but you can trust that whatever was meant for evil will be turned around for good because of how much He loves you.

Joseph was faithful to the Lord during so many years of trial. Even in a foreign land, he never forgot his God, and he continued to worship Him even if no one around him did. He tried to be excellent right where he was—he was even a model prisoner and was appointed manager of the prison.

For the Lord to work things out for the good, we have to be willing to remain faithful. In the midst of whatever we are facing, we can trust that God will use it for good, just as He did with Joseph.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for working everything together for the good. Thank you for loving me so much. Help me to be faithful in the midst of unknowing and uncertainty, just as Joseph was for so many years. Sustain me in your promises and love. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Aug 26 2024

Yesterday's Bible Verse

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. :

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Yesterday's Bible study

In this verse from James, we learn about the effects of sin on our relationship with the Lord. James addresses this verse to people who are committing adultery, but it applies to any type of sin. He writes that when we are friends with the world, we are making an enemy of the Lord. Sin and a relationship with God do not mix; sin is diametrically opposed to everything God stands for.

Our culture rejects this verse. It says that sin, especially sexual sin, is a way to find ourselves and there should be no consequences for doing wrong. But this is not in accordance with what God wants because sin separates us from Him. Even if we know Him, we cannot approach Him with sin in our hearts. It cuts us off from the very source of joy, peace, and love.

This is because the Lord is holy. His holiness means that sinfulness cannot be near Him; we are unable to come close to Him. When Adam and Eve sinned, they cut themselves off from the Lord because they had defiled themselves. There was no way that we could ever atone for our sins because we deserved death—our sin was the final closing of a door on our communion with the Lord.

However, in His love, the Lord made a way for us all to have a relationship with Him. Jesus died an innocent death, and His innocent blood was the perfect, single sacrifice that atoned for our sin. Through His death, our redemption became possible.

This is why living in sin makes an enemy of God: It is an active rejection of what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross. It says that we would rather have our sin than a living-giving, supernatural relationship with the Lord who created us. It says that adultery, cheating, lying, and stealing are better than being loved by God—and that pushes God out of our lives.

Yet repentance is always an option. When we forsake our sin and ask the Lord to give us life in Him, He will. He will forget that we ever turned away from him, and welcome us into His kingdom as His sons and daughters. We can have friendship with the Lord, even today.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank you for loving me beyond my own comprehension. Thank you for Jesus, who made it possible for me to be friends with you forever. In Jesus' name, amen.
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