Monday, January 24, 2011

God can use us regardless and God be Praised!

I'm following This plan takes you through the bible in two years. Todays' reading is: Genesis 39-40 and Psalm 24.

Genesis 39-40
So here we have Joseph in Egypt. He's had the dishonour of being sold by his brothers. It would seem that trouble was just a brewing for Joseph. Yet we read this:
2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
So here he is, a slave, subject to the whims of another, and God is using him. It would seem that circumstances in our life doesn't dictate whether God can use us or not. But troubled plagued Joseph in the shape of his master's wife. She wanted to "lie with him" but Joseph's response was such
How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"
He wasn't concerned about disobeying his master so much as he was concerned about sinning against God. Yet he got into trouble none-the-less. She lied, he was sent to jail, where he languished... well...not really languished because
21But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.
So where-ever Joseph went, God made it abundantly clear that he was there. He would help Joseph and so people would find themselves appreciating him. He even helped two people (through the Lord God he helped them) to interpret their dreams. Both interpretations proved true, one died, one was restored, but one failed to remember his promise to Joseph, and so Joseph remains in jail.

Psalm 24.

This is such a nice Psalm. Such a song of praise to the Lord our God! Let's just read it. :)

A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
2for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
5He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
9Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory!
Selah

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