God is With You!!!
www.moravian.org/daily_texts/
Readings for Today:
Psalm 22:9-21
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm22&version=NIV
Genesis: 39
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis39&version=NIV
Matthew 13:47-58
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew13&version=NIV
Psalm 22:9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help
Genesis 39:20 But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Matthew 13 - A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Doing the work of God can often be a lonely business! There are times when we feel depressed, discouraged and even rejected in ministry. It is good to know we are not alone in this experience. King David expresses the strength he finds that when all have deserted him, he knows that God has been with him since he was in his mother’s womb and has been his God since his youth. As we continue the story of Joseph, he winds up in prison, as Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses him of attacking her. Far away from his father Jacob, and his brothers who despised him because of his favored status with his dad, he sits alone in prison with only the knowledge that God was with him and would provide favor to him.
Finally, in the Gospel story we see even Jesus felt rejected and alone, especially in his hometown. Despite the power he showed in healing people and the authoritative teaching he gave in the synagogue, they rejected him because of his humble upbringing. Their pride could not get past the fact that he was not among the cultural elite. And because of their lack of faith, he could not do any miracles there. These stories remind us that following God and Jesus do not guarantee success from a worldly point of view. Though God will never leave or forsake us, sometimes the world will.
In spite of bad circumstances, God will work all things together for good in His timing and in His ways. This is the journey of faith. We see that power of David, Joseph and Jesus is knowing that their identity is rooted in their relationship with the God the Father. And we see that God uses them each powerfully as they stay faithful to the course God has for them. Where is God challenging you to stay faithful despite some adverse circumstances?
Creator God, thank you for the earthly lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ! As we study his life's journey, may his words abide within us as we gather fruits worthy to be harvested in his kingdom! Amen.
Readings for Today:
Psalm 22:9-21
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm22&version=NIV
Genesis: 39
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis39&version=NIV
Matthew 13:47-58
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew13&version=NIV
Psalm 22:9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help
Genesis 39:20 But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Matthew 13 - A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Doing the work of God can often be a lonely business! There are times when we feel depressed, discouraged and even rejected in ministry. It is good to know we are not alone in this experience. King David expresses the strength he finds that when all have deserted him, he knows that God has been with him since he was in his mother’s womb and has been his God since his youth. As we continue the story of Joseph, he winds up in prison, as Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses him of attacking her. Far away from his father Jacob, and his brothers who despised him because of his favored status with his dad, he sits alone in prison with only the knowledge that God was with him and would provide favor to him.
Finally, in the Gospel story we see even Jesus felt rejected and alone, especially in his hometown. Despite the power he showed in healing people and the authoritative teaching he gave in the synagogue, they rejected him because of his humble upbringing. Their pride could not get past the fact that he was not among the cultural elite. And because of their lack of faith, he could not do any miracles there. These stories remind us that following God and Jesus do not guarantee success from a worldly point of view. Though God will never leave or forsake us, sometimes the world will.
In spite of bad circumstances, God will work all things together for good in His timing and in His ways. This is the journey of faith. We see that power of David, Joseph and Jesus is knowing that their identity is rooted in their relationship with the God the Father. And we see that God uses them each powerfully as they stay faithful to the course God has for them. Where is God challenging you to stay faithful despite some adverse circumstances?
Creator God, thank you for the earthly lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ! As we study his life's journey, may his words abide within us as we gather fruits worthy to be harvested in his kingdom! Amen.
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