Date: July 11, 2021 | Series: From Pastor’s Desk | Number: Vol. 10, No. 10
Beloved: grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Welcome to another week of the month of July. My prayer for you is that God will cause you to experience in it things that will make you forget your years of trouble and all the evil things people have done to you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
As we see in the bible, even though Joseph eventually became a very great man, according to the plans of God for him, the road to greatness was a very rough one for him. First, it was members of his own family, his own blood brothers, that ganged up against him and sold him into slavery. Why? It was because they were envious of him and also bitter against him. They did not like the fact that their father loved him more than all of them and did not hide it. Also, they did not like the fact that he was always reporting their bad behaviours – they weren’t just pleased with the fact that his life was upright and not twisted like theirs. In addition, they did not like the fact that he was the one always having dreams of becoming greater than everybody. So, they did all they could to get rid of him. (Cf. Gen 37)
But because God loved him and would not abandon, he found himself as a slave in the house of a man who appreciated his uprightness and industry and permitted him to thrive. Therefore, after a while, he became the most important person in his master’s house. He became the manager of this man’s wealth and servants and everything going on in his household. Unfortunately, just about when his life seemed to be taking shape again, the wicked forces that were determined to destroy his life moved his master’s wife to take immoral and foolish steps that landed him in the prison. (Cf. Gen 39)
Yet God would not abandon this young man, even in the prison. Instead, He caused him to be favoured again and to meet a very influential person that eventually opened the door to greatness and peace of mind for him (Gen 40). And here is what the bible says concerning him, when he eventually had his firstborn some years later: “Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”” (Gen 41:51NIV)
Think about that. God made Joseph forget all his trouble and all the bitter things he suffered from the hands of his own brothers. In other words, God brought about circumstances that took away all his pains, sorrows, regrets and even anger against those who offended him. So, he was able to live the rest of his life in prosperity, gladness and peace of mind. What a marvellous thing!
In like manner, the same God who made Jospeh forget all his trouble and bitterness of soul is able to make you too forget all your trouble, sorrows, pains and even anger against those whom Satan has used or is using to hurt or torment you. Yes, He is able to bring about in your life circumstances that will make you totally forget what it looks like to suffer or be in distress. All you need to do is to trust Him wholeheartedly and have the right attitude as did Joseph, and He will bring you to that place in life where your heart will be so occupied with gladness that you will have no time to cry, regret or think of taking vengeance on anyone for what they did to you.
See, people who have time to blame, hate and seek vengeance against others are like that because they have not experienced certain measure of the joy of the Lord. But if such people are thrown into the rivers of His joy and are overwhelmed by it, all their anger, complaints and hatred will vanish, and their focus will simply be on enjoying the fullness of the blessings God has bestowed on them. What, then, do you want? Is it to live the rest of your life complaining, hating and blaming others for the roles they played in your miseries and misfortunes? Or is it to live the rest of your life in the fullness of the joy of the Lord, where you have no time to remember the failure and pains of the past or the wickedness of those treated you shamefully?
As for me, I will live the rest of my life with a heart that is free of hate, sorrow, bitterness or vengeance and that is only occupied with joy and thankfulness to God. That is because I am certain that He is causing all things, including the wickedness of men towards me, to work together for my good and progress and for the praise of His glorious name (Rom 8:28). And I pray that you too will find strength in Him to have in you the same mind, in Jesus’s precious name. Amen.
Do have a fabulous week.
Copyright © 2021, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)