A STEADY FAITH
Genesis 42:18-20
"Then Joseph said to them the third day, 'Do this and live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.' And they did so."
During all the trials he experienced, and then in his prosperity as Pharaoh's right hand man, Joseph never lost his faith in God. He could still say, "I fear God." There are two things that cause people to lose faith – failure and success. Bad experiences can cause me to question God's power and his goodness. Is there really an omnipotent loving God Who would let me to go through this suffering? And prosperity can cause me to become self-sufficient and think I don't need Him – that I can handle life on my own. In the words of Agur: "Give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:8b-9). Keeping faith in the extremes is a challenge because my view of God becomes distorted. Lord, help me to be like Joseph who kept his faith through thick and thin.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A steady faith comes from understanding that God is in control, in both times of distress and in times of peace.
[end]
Have a steady day. Love you.
Genesis 42:18-20
"Then Joseph said to them the third day, 'Do this and live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.' And they did so."
During all the trials he experienced, and then in his prosperity as Pharaoh's right hand man, Joseph never lost his faith in God. He could still say, "I fear God." There are two things that cause people to lose faith – failure and success. Bad experiences can cause me to question God's power and his goodness. Is there really an omnipotent loving God Who would let me to go through this suffering? And prosperity can cause me to become self-sufficient and think I don't need Him – that I can handle life on my own. In the words of Agur: "Give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:8b-9). Keeping faith in the extremes is a challenge because my view of God becomes distorted. Lord, help me to be like Joseph who kept his faith through thick and thin.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A steady faith comes from understanding that God is in control, in both times of distress and in times of peace.
[end]
Have a steady day. Love you.
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