“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.”
GENESIS 38-40
But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.(39:20-23)
MATTHEW 12:22-50
33Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. 36But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
JOURNAL
I think it is easy to become calloused to stories. Growing up hearing the story of Joseph it is easy to pass right over the difficult parts...because you know how the story ends. But here in the midst of the story as it ends in chapter 40...it all seems pretty hopeless. "The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." Joseph has been betrayed by his brothers, cast into prison for 13 years, miraculously brought out of prison and then falsely accused and thrown back in. He now has served several more years and finally gets a break and interprets the chief cupbearer's dream who is then supposed to say a good word in order to get Joseph out of prison. Then in a seemingly fatal, final twist...he forgets about Joseph.
At this point I really think I would have come completely apart. How cruel God? Really?!? It's really kind of twisted. How is this not too much for Joseph? The only way it's not too much is because Joseph's goals are different than what mine would be. Joseph's objective ultimately is not about his status or position but rather being obedient to God. Whether he is in prison or a ruler of Egypt...does not matter. What matter's to Joseph is glorifying God through his obedience. This is a really tough realization...this is why scripture is so important. I need to be constantly reminded of the ways in which my thinking and the world miss the mark.
I think this is what Jesus means when he says that "a tree is recognized by its fruit"...your intent will come out of you. If it is for your self...then no matter where you are or what position in life...selfishness will come out of you. However if your intent is goodness and love and obedience to God, then no matter where you are or what circumstances you find yourself, you will continue to seek goodness and follow God and therefore goodness will flow from your life. It also gives a warning to really watch what we say...our words actually do mean something. We will be held accountable and need to really consider our words before speaking them.
I think it is easy to become calloused to stories. Growing up hearing the story of Joseph it is easy to pass right over the difficult parts...because you know how the story ends. But here in the midst of the story as it ends in chapter 40...it all seems pretty hopeless. "The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." Joseph has been betrayed by his brothers, cast into prison for 13 years, miraculously brought out of prison and then falsely accused and thrown back in. He now has served several more years and finally gets a break and interprets the chief cupbearer's dream who is then supposed to say a good word in order to get Joseph out of prison. Then in a seemingly fatal, final twist...he forgets about Joseph.
I think this is what Jesus means when he says that "a tree is recognized by its fruit"...your intent will come out of you. If it is for your self...then no matter where you are or what position in life...selfishness will come out of you. However if your intent is goodness and love and obedience to God, then no matter where you are or what circumstances you find yourself, you will continue to seek goodness and follow God and therefore goodness will flow from your life. It also gives a warning to really watch what we say...our words actually do mean something. We will be held accountable and need to really consider our words before speaking them.
At this point I really think I would have come completely apart. How cruel God? Really?!? It's really kind of twisted. How is this not too much for Joseph? The only way it's not too much is because Joseph's goals are different than what mine would be. Joseph's objective ultimately is not about his status or position but rather being obedient to God. Whether he is in prison or a ruler of Egypt...does not matter. What matter's to Joseph is glorifying God through his obedience. This is a really tough realization...this is why scripture is so important. I need to be constantly reminded of the ways in which my thinking and the world miss the mark.
I think this is what Jesus means when he says that "a tree is recognized by its fruit"...your intent will come out of you. If it is for your self...then no matter where you are or what position in life...selfishness will come out of you. However if your intent is goodness and love and obedience to God, then no matter where you are or what circumstances you find yourself, you will continue to seek goodness and follow God and therefore goodness will flow from your life. It also gives a warning to really watch what we say...our words actually do mean something. We will be held accountable and need to really consider our words before speaking them.
PROVERBS 21:21
No comments:
Post a Comment