Freedom

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.  "We are your slaves," they said.  But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  Genesis 50:18-20

Joseph has an amazing story!  He was beloved by his father, buy hated by his brothers. When his brothers sold him into slavery it must have been a horrible blow.  Then when he was wrongly accused of a crime by his master's wife and thrown into prison, it must have felt as though this was it - all he had to look forward to.  But God wasn't done with him.  He was brought up from that place and made second in command under Pharoah!  Talk about a rags to riches story!

God used this passage to really speak to me today.  His message was very simple, but life changing.  What others have intended for evil in your life, God can use for good.  I believe these "evil things" can be something that was done to you or choices you have made yourself.  But take courage.  No matter what these things are, God is going to use for good in your life to accomplish His goals, "the saving of many lives!"

There are so many of us that have made choices that we have later come to regret.  Choices that we may have even known were wrong at the time we did them, but we chose them anyways.  God is saying today that this isn't the end.  Your story isn't over.  Don't think He can't use even those choices you made that plague your memory, that cause you guilt and despair.  Our God is the God of miracles.  His thoughts are higher than your thoughts and His ways higher than your ways.  Nothing you do is "unsavable" or "unredeemable."  The blood of Christ covers ALL sin! 

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  Ephesians 1:7

Your sin is forgiven as soon as you confess Jesus Christ as your personal Savior (Romans 10:9-10).  God says your sin is as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).  So don't let it control your life! Let me say it again - Don't let your sin eat away at you!  Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  You make the choice.  You can choose to be "burdened again" by the sin in your life or you can choose freedom! 

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.  Romans 6:14

No matter what decisions you have made in your life or what has happened to you, recognize that God still has a purpose and a plan for you.  He will use those choices and experiences to glorify His Kingdom.  His love for you knows no bounds.  He will never leave you.  You may feel that you have made unforgivable choices, but remember we serve a kind, gracious, and forgiving Father who is waiting, ready to forgive.  You need only ask.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for [you] . . .   Psalm 138:8a  

Pawning Off Destiny

Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” . . . “But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.” Exodus 4:10 – 13, 17


There is so much that can be pulled out of this short passage, but God spoke to me specifically about one aspect of this story. Before I get into that let me give you some background. In the chapter before this Moses comes across a bush that is on fire, but is not being burnt up. In going to investigate this miraculous phenomenon Moses hears the voice of the Lord who tells him that he will go to the Pharaoh in Egypt and bring the Israelites out. Moses obviously doubts God’s plan. He immediately asks who he is to go before Pharaoh and ask this. Moses poses question after question asking “Suppose this . . .” and “What if . . . “ He continues these questions in an attempt to change the mind of God before he comes up with an excuse in Exodus 3:10, “I am slow in speech and tongue.” The Lord, once again, answers him, reminding Moses that He created man’s mouth and makes him able to speak. Finally Moses spits out what he’s been wanting to say the whole time – “Can’t someone else do it?”

In all this time, in all of Moses’ questioning, God never once said, “You’ve got a good point, Moses. I must have been wrong. You’re not able to do it.” In fact, God does the exact opposite! There are so many times when God could have just said, “Never mind. If you won’t do it I’ll find someone else who will.” Every time Moses questioned God gave a response. He encouraged Moses, answered his questions, and provided wisdom and physical materials that would make Moses’ “What if” questions obsolete. In all this, God never gave up on Moses. Why not? Moses obviously didn’t feel capable, didn’t think he was the man for the job. Why didn’t God just get someone else? Because God knew Moses. God created Moses. God knew what Moses was capable of doing even if he didn’t.

In the same way that God knew Moses, He knows you. “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely. . . . For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your words are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:2-5, 13-14

God knows absolutely everything there is to know about you. He created you. Not just your physical appearance, but your thoughts, fears, and desires as well. God knows what you are capable of better than you do. He created you with a plan and for a purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.’” Do not say to yourself, “He’s got the wrong person.” Our God does not make mistakes. He has exactly who He needs. The question is whether you will step into Pharaoh’s courts to free God’s people or if you will try to pawn off your destiny onto someone else. The choice is yours.  Step into God's plan for your life or miss out on the adventure of a lifetime!

What type of sacrifice are you bringing?

"You place defiled food on my altar. But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?' By saying that the Lord's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:7-8

As I read this the other morning I had to ask myself, "What type of sacrifice are you bringing to the Lord?" I have to admit I wasn't pleased with my answer. I'm not talking about the Old Testament sacrifices of animals. These sacrifices are no longer necessary after the Lamb of God was sacrificed for our sins on the cross. What I am speaking of is your devotion to Him. When was the last time you prayed just to talk to God? He loves to hear your voice. Psalm 55:17 says, "Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice." He is always listening for you. When was the last time you read your Bible? Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The Word of God has power. God not only wants to hear your voice, but He wants to speak to you as well.

Perhaps you are like me. You're thinking, "I read my Bible. I pray." That wonderful! But I have another question for you. On your list of priorities for the day, what is number 1? How about number 2? Where does spending time with God land on your list? I was ashamed of my answer. More often than not my time with God comes at the very end of the day. It comes after everything else on my "To Do" list has been completed. Usually by that time I'm so tired God only get half of my attention and my time with Him is cut short so I can go to sleep.

You see, the people in Malachi that the Lord speaks of where giving sacrifices. They were giving their time, but look at what they were giving! They gave the blind animals. The animals that were crippled and diseased. In essence, they gave the animals that they saw as good for nothing. I was humbled when I realized how alike I was to the people in this passage. In saving all the "good" sacrifices for my self - the time in the beginning and the middle of my day to get my work done - I gave my left-overs to God. My "good for nothing" sacrifice.

My God longs to hear from me! He waits for me to get up each morning just so He can speak with me! My God loves me so much, saw so much value in my life, that He sent is only son to die a horrible death on a cross so that I could live. How can I deny Him my best?

I challenge you to answer this question: What type of sacrifice are you bringing to the Lord? If you don't like your answer, that's ok. It probably just means you're being honest with yourself. Now . . . what are you going to do about it?

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:21 - 24