Genesis 45:7-8 “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”
Predictable?
Certainly not!
Easy?
What of faith has ever been easy?
Always the way of prosperity and blessing? Many of God’s chosen servants cannot claim such a pedigree.
Joseph’s life consisted of utter rejection by his brothers; suffered the life of a slave at the hand of the Ishmeelites; sold on an auction block to an Egyptian ruler, and falsely accused by the ruler’s wife and imprisoned. Hardly a life of prosperity, ease and blessing.
Yet, to look at Joseph’s life, we see how he handled hardships and trials. Every time hard things entered into Joseph’s life, he took it as God’s leading, worked hard, remained humble to his authority and never complained. Could the same be said of us?!
Every child of God has been given gifts and talents to fulfill the specific will of the Father. Whatever it may be:
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
When we all take up and do our part, the church body functions like a well-oiled machine. When there is fighting and division, nothing is accomplished and those needing help get a front row seat to the
Joseph accepted his part. He never complained about the rejection, the false accusation and imprisonment. Not one word came from his lips to accuse Potiphar’s wife who wrongly accused him.
We read of another in the gospel of John:
John 1:6-8 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”
John had a purpose and a plan to follow. He was the Forerunner. The one to declare the coming Messiah. Significant – yes. Of great importance – of course!
But what of us?
We are no less significant and of any lesser importance. When you and I fulfill our part in the will of God, it could be to the saving of a life, the giving of the gospel or just encouraging one who will do great things for God.
One man can truly make a difference.
The maniac of the Gadarenes was such an one. He wreaked havoc wherever and whatever he touched – until he met the Savior! Once he met Jesus, he became clothed, in his right mind, and sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Many have a testimony that once we got saved, God cleaned us up, set our feet upon the Rock and established our goings. There was a marked transformation that took place. This man once maniac, wanted to follow Jesus wherever He went. But Jesus told him:
Luke 8:39 “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.”
One man with the commission from the King of Kings. What happened?
Luke 8:40 “And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.”
How did it come about that ALL the city was waiting for Jesus when He returned? One man made the difference. That man in whom dwelt a legion of demonic spirits, was set free and in return preached and testified of what great things God had done for him.
He was God sent just like Joseph; just like John the Baptist and just like you and me.
We have some pretty simple commands to follow.
Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Love God.
Operate within the grace God has given to each of us.
Humbly submit to the will of the Father and watch what He can do through a yielded, sold out, child of God!
Daily Manna 