Genesis 39:1-2
New King James Version (NKJV)
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
A successful man? How can this be. Joseph was sold as a slave, bought while on a slave block, naked so to be examined, far from home with nothing to his name - yet God called Joseph a successful man.
Most of my life I have sought after and many times obtained the success and riches of this world. And this success is based on whatwe have accomplished and what we have accumulated. It is based entirely on us focusing all our time, energy and resources in meriting titles and collecting accomplishments. Yet while I was successful of the things in this world, something was truly missing and at the point where I came to an end to myself, I sought after something more. Something with the only meaning in life. Praise God for His mercy.
God's definition of success is contrary to the world's definition. Genesis 39:2 is clear that success is not what you have, but rather who you have! Joseph literally had nothing materially, but at the same time, he had everything because the Lord was with him.
Every morning when i wake up and poor my first cup of coffee, I thank the Lord for all He has done and is doing in my life. I look at all the problems I created in my past thinking how stressed I used to be, sick with worry sometimes. But finding rest in Jesus Christ, these burdens are now easy, like poring that first cup of coffee. For now my success lies in Christ, no matter how bad this life gets my identity is in Him. I am amazed sometimes how I used to overload my mind and body with stress but now I praise Him even when life throws a fast curve ball.
I used to read the bible, sometimes so confused on what God's word was trying to say to me. I then started to pray that God would open my eyes and grant me wisdom. He showed me that if I want wisdom, seek Jesus for He alone is wisdom. I am amazed how quick my reading of the bible went from slight understanding to being overwhelmed with understanding day after day. One of the blessing I got was no matter what part of the bible I read I should always unfold Christ.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Joseph was successful because he sought first the Kingdom of God in all things he did, in good times and especially in bad times. What is it to seek the kingdom of God. For me it is to see Christ in all things. To stay Christ conscience, to see His love and glory. To sing praises to Him through ever situation.
I know many people who day after day they say things like Satan has been doing a number on me today. They go over and over on how Satan is at work in there life. I will NEVER do this, for I am successful in God's eyes because of the price that Christ paid for me and by His blood I am Free from ALL things. No matter what life throws at me, I will sing praises to HIS name and by seeking first the Kingdom (Jesus) of God, I am made righteous in ALL I do. For this I am truly blessed.
Looking at the story of Joseph in Genesis, we see a beautiful story so similar to Jesus' story. Christ was beloved by the Father - Joseph was beloved over all his brother by his father. Christ was rejected by His people, the Jews - Joseph was rejected by his brother and sold as a slave. Christ was tempted - Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wife. Christ had two criminals crucified with Him, one gained the Kingdom of Heaven - Joseph was imprisoned with two men of Pharaoh's court, one restored the other executed. Christ overcame death to rule over all things -Joseph overcame imprisonment to rule over all of Egypt. The list goes on and on but I wanted to outline some to show how similar they are.
Now I want to jump to the last part of Genesis 50:14-21 where after the death of Jacob (Joseph's father), Joseph's brothers where consumed with the possibility that there past evil deeds done to there brother would be repaid to them. In Genesis 50:16-18 " So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.†When their message came to him, Joseph wept.18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.“We are your slaves,†they said.
Joseph wept, why would he do this? I believe this is what Jesus weeps for today. For Joseph wept because his brother would not believe that they where forgiven for what they did. Christ is weeping today not only that the world rejects His sacrifice but also that many believers do not believe that ALL there sins - past, present and future are forgiven. And Jesus wants us all to draw near to Him knowing we are forgiven. Before I knew this my life was in a state of confusion. Even after being saved sin still had its power over me. But when I was blessed with the knowledge that All my sins are forgiven, sin lost its power over me allowing me to draw every second, every minute and every hour day after day to my wonderful Lord and Savior, receiving His mercy and grace - allowing me to boldly come to His presence no matter what is going on in my life and no matter what I have done.
Love is not satisfied at a distance. Jesus wants us near to Him. He was always saying come near to me. Under the law we can't come near and we have to do, do, do but under GRACE Jesus says come to me and I will give you rest. Come to me and I (Jesus) will do for you. I find peace in the arms of Jesus resting in His wonderful love for me. I pray that you will see that you have rest in our Lord and you are forgiven of ALL things.
Acts 13:38-39 (KJV)
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39 And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
All the believe are justified from ALL THINGS. We are forgiven now draw near to our wonderful Lord and take rest in Him for God sees us successful in ALL we do.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
A successful man? How can this be. Joseph was sold as a slave, bought while on a slave block, naked so to be examined, far from home with nothing to his name - yet God called Joseph a successful man.
Most of my life I have sought after and many times obtained the success and riches of this world. And this success is based on whatwe have accomplished and what we have accumulated. It is based entirely on us focusing all our time, energy and resources in meriting titles and collecting accomplishments. Yet while I was successful of the things in this world, something was truly missing and at the point where I came to an end to myself, I sought after something more. Something with the only meaning in life. Praise God for His mercy.
God's definition of success is contrary to the world's definition. Genesis 39:2 is clear that success is not what you have, but rather who you have! Joseph literally had nothing materially, but at the same time, he had everything because the Lord was with him.
Every morning when i wake up and poor my first cup of coffee, I thank the Lord for all He has done and is doing in my life. I look at all the problems I created in my past thinking how stressed I used to be, sick with worry sometimes. But finding rest in Jesus Christ, these burdens are now easy, like poring that first cup of coffee. For now my success lies in Christ, no matter how bad this life gets my identity is in Him. I am amazed sometimes how I used to overload my mind and body with stress but now I praise Him even when life throws a fast curve ball.
I used to read the bible, sometimes so confused on what God's word was trying to say to me. I then started to pray that God would open my eyes and grant me wisdom. He showed me that if I want wisdom, seek Jesus for He alone is wisdom. I am amazed how quick my reading of the bible went from slight understanding to being overwhelmed with understanding day after day. One of the blessing I got was no matter what part of the bible I read I should always unfold Christ.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Joseph was successful because he sought first the Kingdom of God in all things he did, in good times and especially in bad times. What is it to seek the kingdom of God. For me it is to see Christ in all things. To stay Christ conscience, to see His love and glory. To sing praises to Him through ever situation.
I know many people who day after day they say things like Satan has been doing a number on me today. They go over and over on how Satan is at work in there life. I will NEVER do this, for I am successful in God's eyes because of the price that Christ paid for me and by His blood I am Free from ALL things. No matter what life throws at me, I will sing praises to HIS name and by seeking first the Kingdom (Jesus) of God, I am made righteous in ALL I do. For this I am truly blessed.
Looking at the story of Joseph in Genesis, we see a beautiful story so similar to Jesus' story. Christ was beloved by the Father - Joseph was beloved over all his brother by his father. Christ was rejected by His people, the Jews - Joseph was rejected by his brother and sold as a slave. Christ was tempted - Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wife. Christ had two criminals crucified with Him, one gained the Kingdom of Heaven - Joseph was imprisoned with two men of Pharaoh's court, one restored the other executed. Christ overcame death to rule over all things -Joseph overcame imprisonment to rule over all of Egypt. The list goes on and on but I wanted to outline some to show how similar they are.
Now I want to jump to the last part of Genesis 50:14-21 where after the death of Jacob (Joseph's father), Joseph's brothers where consumed with the possibility that there past evil deeds done to there brother would be repaid to them. In Genesis 50:16-18 " So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.†When their message came to him, Joseph wept.18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.“We are your slaves,†they said.
Joseph wept, why would he do this? I believe this is what Jesus weeps for today. For Joseph wept because his brother would not believe that they where forgiven for what they did. Christ is weeping today not only that the world rejects His sacrifice but also that many believers do not believe that ALL there sins - past, present and future are forgiven. And Jesus wants us all to draw near to Him knowing we are forgiven. Before I knew this my life was in a state of confusion. Even after being saved sin still had its power over me. But when I was blessed with the knowledge that All my sins are forgiven, sin lost its power over me allowing me to draw every second, every minute and every hour day after day to my wonderful Lord and Savior, receiving His mercy and grace - allowing me to boldly come to His presence no matter what is going on in my life and no matter what I have done.
Love is not satisfied at a distance. Jesus wants us near to Him. He was always saying come near to me. Under the law we can't come near and we have to do, do, do but under GRACE Jesus says come to me and I will give you rest. Come to me and I (Jesus) will do for you. I find peace in the arms of Jesus resting in His wonderful love for me. I pray that you will see that you have rest in our Lord and you are forgiven of ALL things.
Acts 13:38-39 (KJV)
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39 And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
All the believe are justified from ALL THINGS. We are forgiven now draw near to our wonderful Lord and take rest in Him for God sees us successful in ALL we do.
