Abundant Grace: August 2015

Monday, August 31, 2015

He Took Care of Them Along the Way

“And Joseph sent his father these things . . .” Genesis 45:23

Joseph had instructed his brothers to return to Canaan and retrieve their father, their wives, and their children, and to bring them all to Egypt. Egypt would be the place of refuge from all the terrors of life that afflicted the world at that time. But he didn’t make them wait until they got to Egypt to give them the bounty of his grace. He sent them abundant supplies of goods and food to enjoy before they ever left their homes.

Christians have a wonderful home in heaven away from all the pains of this world, but we don’t have to wait until heaven to receive blessings from God. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”. He takes care of us while we are here and all along the way to His home. Jesus loves us as Joseph loved his family and He will care for us far better than Joseph could care for his own.

Dear Father, Thank You for caring for us along the way to heaven. Amen.

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Friday, August 28, 2015

God's Plan for Our Salvation

“Do not be grieved, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Genesis 45:11

When Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers, they were terrified. Here was the brother whom they had sold into slavery. Now he was the all-powerful ruler before whom they bowed. What would be his verdict against them? His verdict was simple, “Your actions were the will of God to preserve the lives of many.” He did not sit in fiery judgment. He welcomed them in love.

Sinful men condemned Jesus to die on the cross. Romans, Jewish leaders, a heathen king, and the shameless mob all gathered to put Him to death. What were His words from the cross? “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Without Christ’s death on the cross there could be no remission of sins for all mankind. What his enemies meant for ill, the Father meant for good. Instead of fearing Christ because we are great sinners, we can believe who He is and thank Him for His great salvation.

Dear Father, Thank You for seeing our need and meeting it at the cross. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen

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Thursday, August 27, 2015

Before the Throne, My Surety Stands

“Judah said, ‘I myself will be surety for him’.” Genesis 43:8-9

What is surety? One who has contracted to be responsible for another, especially one who assumes responsibilities or debts in the event of another party's default. That is the clear definition of what Judah meant in his pledge to Jacob. “I will be responsible for Benjamin and I will cover any debt he has.” With that promise in hand, Jacob finally let his sons return to Egypt for more grain.

Benjamin’s future was in doubt. Would he, like Simeon, be kept as a slave in Egypt? That was Jacob’s fear. Judah’s oath was that he would take Benjamin’s place if that danger presented itself. That is what Jesus did for us. We were in bondage to sin and death. Jesus assumed the payment for our sin by giving Himself as the perfect sacrifice for us. Our heavenly Father accepted that surety just as Jacob accepted the surety offered by Judah. Judah offered himself for one man. Jesus offered Himself for all men. Thanks be to God.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for assuming all my debts and giving me eternal life instead. Amen.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out

“And Jacob said, ‘You have bereaved me’.” Genesis 42:36

For almost twenty years Jacob’s sons have been lying to him about Joseph’s fate. Now with Simeon also gone they still won’t admit what they had done. Instead, Reuben offers to slay his own sons if he fails to keep Benjamin, Joseph’s little brother, safe. He would add tragedy to tragedy to hide his sin. By not being honest about what they had done to Joseph, these brothers continued to hinder the welfare of their families during the raging famine.

Our sins don’t just affect us. We live in families, communities and societies where the ripple effect of sin is amplified. God’s word gives the Law to show us how to live, but it also gives the Gospel to show how God will forgive. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. This is a promise that is too often ignored. Unlike Jacob who didn’t know what happened to Joseph, God knows all. But God will not just punish sin; through Christ He also forgives them when we confess our sins to Him.

Dear Father, Thank You for forgiving sins through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Tuesday, August 25, 2015

What We Don't Deserve

“And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.” Genesis 42:24

If the policeman says, “Stop or you will be arrested”, most people obey but the fool presses on. If the teacher says, “If I catch you looking at your neighbor’s paper during this test I will fail you”, then the wise keep their eyes away from their neighbor’s paper. Otherwise they will join the fools in their punishment. When God says there will be consequences for sin He is not joking. He is mightier than the police or the teacher. He is more perfect in seeing what is happening than they are as well.

Simeon got what he deserved, what all his brothers deserved as well – he was thrown in the dungeon. His sin had found him out. But there is more to this story. There is the grace of Joseph that so wonderfully pictures the grace of God. When Judah fell on his knees and repented, Joseph forgave all the brothers and took care of them. God can not only give us what we deserve, but through grace gives us what we don’t deserve as well.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your merciful grace. Amen.

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Monday, August 24, 2015

God's Word Stands!

“And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him.” Genesis 42:6

The modern world keeps searching for something or someone to give them guidance. Perhaps someone can tell them what will happen next? Their frustration comes because they don’t want to go to the source of guidance – God’s word. God’s word is inspired or literally breathed out by God. His word is inerrant or totally accurate in all it says. His word is also infallible or without error in how it teaches us to live and worship God. If we abandon this source of guidance we will find ourselves floundering without hope in a sea of charlatans.

God had given Joseph a dream that his brothers would all bow down to him. They sold him as a slave to make that dream impossible. Yet here they are bowing down to him. God’s word cannot be altered or broken by men because God is true, holy, and eternal. We must trust it or abandon all hope of guidance in this life and the life to come.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your true, accurate, and holy word. Amen.

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Friday, August 21, 2015

The True Bread of Life

“So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt because the famine was severe in all lands.” Genesis 41:57

Joseph was not to be just the savior of a few, the Egyptians; he was to be the savior of the world. That is a fairly accurate translation of what Zaphnath-Paaneh, Joseph’s new name, means. This famine was not simply a localized Egyptian calamity, but it affected the whole world. That meant that Joseph’s brothers would have to come to Egypt to get bread as well. Only Joseph had the bread of life.

Therefore, whether we be Jews (Joseph’s brothers) or Gentiles (the rest of us) our sole means of life is in Christ, the true Bread of Life. I John says that “the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world”. His provision is not merely wheat but it is Himself. Let us gladly partake of this wonderful Bread to find not only life for a day but life for eternity.

Dear Father, Thank You for the provision of eternal life through Your Son. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

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Thursday, August 20, 2015

Doers, not Hearers of the Word

“Pharaoh said, ‘Go to Joseph and whatever he says to you, do’.” Genesis 41:55

On the Mount of Transfiguration, when Peter, James, and John were finally awake enough to know what was going on, God said to them, “This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him.” This didn’t just imply that they were supposed to listen to Him talk. They were to act out what He said.

Jesus spoke of the wise and foolish men (Matt. 7). The wise man heard the words of Christ and did them. His house was built on a rock. The foolish man heard the words of Christ and didn’t do them. His house was built on sand. Still the foolish man protested that he had heard the words of Christ and wasn’t that enough. The answer was no. Pharaoh told all the people of Egypt to go to Joseph and “DO” what he said. When they did so they were prepared for the calamities that laid ahead. It is God’s recurring message to us, “This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him.”

Dear Father, Help me through Your Spirit to hear and obey Your Son. Amen.

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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Accepted in the Beloved

“And Pharaoh gave Joseph Asenath, the daughter of the priest of On, for a wife.” Genesis 41:45

The priest of On was a servant of the god of this world. Why would Joseph want his daughter for a wife? There would be two reasons – one, Pharaoh said so, and two, it was a way that he could foreshadow Christ.

Before we know Christ we are servants of the god of this world. We are literally dead in our trespasses and sins and willing servants of the desires of the world. But God the Father calls us out of this world to believe in His Son Jesus Christ and become the bride of Christ. Joseph’s acceptance of Asenath assures us of Christ’s acceptance of the pagans that we were before coming to faith in Him. The Father gives us to the Son and He accepts us as His own. What a wonderful picture Joseph and Asenath painted of our hope and assurance of acceptance in Christ.

Dear Father, Thank You for giving us to the Son and for our acceptance in the Beloved. Amen.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

A New Name

“And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah.” Genesis 41:45

When my beloved bride and I got married forty years ago, she changed her name. It reflected a change in her life and position. It didn’t come with all the perks that Joseph’s new name gave him, but it did reflect her new status. As believers in Jesus Christ we have a new status and someday that will come with a new name.

In Revelation 2 and 3 we are told that we will be given a new name in glory. We don’t know what it is, but it must be something very special if God is giving it to us. Right now, though, we have a new status – we are children of God and Christ’s beloved bride. Paul says that the perks of our new status are greater than anything we can imagine, ask, or think. Joseph’s name and status were given by man; ours are given by God. WOW!

Dear Father, Thank You for Your grace that makes me new. Amen.

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Monday, August 17, 2015

Gone, Gone, Gone, Gone, Yes My Sins Are Gone

“The chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.” Genesis 40:23

We were on a high school youth retreat and in a strange and large city. I got separated from the group and when I went to find them they were gone. It felt horrible to be forgotten. I have returned to that city many times in my life and the memory of that event never ceases to give me a chill.

While we hate to be forgotten there is one thing we would all like to have forgotten – our sins. No matter how hard we try to blot out the memory of some particular “great” sin in our life, or in the life of someone else, we just can’t seem to delete our memories. But God can. In Isaiah 43:25 God says, “I blot out your transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember your sins.” Being forgotten can be traumatic, but having God forget all our sins should make us ecstatic. Our sin the one thing we can truly say that we want God to remember no more.

Dear Father, Thank You for forgetting my sin through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Thursday, August 13, 2015

It Came to Pass; It Will Come to Pass

“It came to pass . . .” Genesis 40:1

Isn’t hindsight great? We can wrap months or years of frustration into a simple bundle and conclude those sad memories with the statement, “It came to pass.” Of course we would say, “Then”, but it ends the record of disappointment or at least the beginning of a brighter tale. For Joseph these few words announce the beginning of the end of his days of sorrow. It will take two more years to happen, but those years fly by and he comes out on top.

When troubles enter our lives we too often forget that we have had troubles before and that at some point in them we could say, “It came to pass,” and things got better. As we saw yesterday we are not alone when things are bad. Now we can see through Joseph that God is simply preparing us for something better than what we had before. We can say confidently, “It will come to pass” and rejoice in the ever-loving care of our gracious God.

Dear Father, Help me to remember that Your plans for Your children are for good and not evil. Amen.

Today's issue of Abundant Grace is the 600th daily devotion. I am not going to rest upon my laurels, but I am going to rest until next week. So I add Friday's benediction a day early this week.

The Friday Benediction

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

The Lord is with Us

“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy.” Genesis 39:21

Here is a recurring theme in the story of Joseph – the Lord was with him. How many times have we sighed and wished that the Lord was with us too? Now let’s see. Joseph was rejected by his brothers, but the Lord was with him. Joseph lived and worked like a slave, but the Lord was with him. Joseph was lied about and thrown into prison, but the Lord was with him.

The Lord’s presence with us is not defined by how successful we are or how much others respect us. As Stephen was being stoned in Acts 7, Christ stood to receive him. The Lord was with Stephen. Our circumstances don’t define whether or not the Lord is with us. God’s word defines the truth about this. Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always.” Hebrews reminds us that God has said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” In our times of greatest frustration let us remember that the Lord is with us.

Dear Father, Thank You for the promise to be with us always. Amen.

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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

No Condemnation

“Then she said to her husband, ‘The Hebrew servant you brought to us came in to mock me’.” Genesis 39:17

Falsely accused! Oh the pain of being falsely accused and reviled for no just cause. There are few who have never felt the shame and pain of it. Joseph had been experiencing it for years. He had told his brothers about his dreams and they falsely accused him of deliberately trying to place himself above them. Now his master’s wife falsely accused him of attempted rape.

But what about when we are justly accused? Satan takes our sin before God every day and accuses us with it. But unlike Joseph before Potiphar, we have a just Advocate. Jesus declares us not guilty by reason of His own punishment for us. Satan fails in his accusations because the Father loves the Son, and we who believe in Christ belong to the Father through the Son. What joy and delight to be freed from accusation! What joy to reciprocate that freedom with love and worship of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ!

Dear Father, Thank You for giving Christ as our Advocate and freeing us from all condemnation. Amen.

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Monday, August 10, 2015

Yield not to Temptation

“But he left his garment in her hand and fled outside.” Genesis 40:13

There is an old hymn “Yield Not to Temptation” that isn’t sung much anymore. Things like the idea of temptation don’t appeal to a “feel good” Christianity. In fact way too many people have come to believe that God wants us to feel so good that if it feels good to us it must be right to God. Therefore we simply eliminate the troublesome idea of temptation and the need to resist it. But Jesus was tempted in all manner just as we are and yet He did not sin.

Joseph had been sold by his own family into slavery. He was far from home and the watchful eye of his father. Humanity had abandoned him, but God had not. He knew right from wrong and when wrong came to call he fled from temptation. When God says something is wrong, no matter how right we want it to feel, we need to flee temptation as well.

Dear Father, Help me be alert to and flee from temptation. Amen.

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Friday, August 7, 2015

Credit Where Credit is Due

“And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.” Genesis 39:2

I hear people say all the time how they have built a successful career or how they have made lots of money, or how they have achieved great honor. When Christian people do this it is very saddening. We need to give credit where credit is due. The psalmist said, “Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Psalm 127:1) This doesn’t dispel the need for hard work and great effort, the scriptures charge us to exert both, but it does remind us that we are not the sole product of our own labor.

Joseph was successful because God made it so. When we succeed it is because God made it so. In our human pride we often forget this, but it is true. God is the source of our success and we need to give credit where credit is due.

Dear Father, Let me never be so vain as to think I have become a success apart from Your care and blessing. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

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Thursday, August 6, 2015

Keepers of God's Good Name

“Judah said, ‘She has been more righteous than I’.” Genesis 38:26

In this passage Judah encounters a really embarrassing situation. He is in sin and judging a lost person who turns out to be in the right. Suddenly his sin is apparent to all and the other person is exonerated. To be caught in sin by the lost who we are condemning for their sin is not only an embarrassment to us but to God. God says, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Rom. 2:24)

The first truth is that we are all sinners. The second truth is that we need to be careful how much we condemn others for their sin while we practice the same ones, or even ones the world considers more grievous. Paul calls on us to “live godly and righteously in this present age”. Judah, and we ourselves, can find ourselves in less embarrassment if we practice what we preach.

Dear Father, Forgive us for our sinful inconsistencies and strengthen us to walk more obediently every day. Amen.

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Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Obedience: No Matter What

“So they dipped his (Joseph’s) tunic in the blood.” Genesis 37:31

Jacob in this account is the picture of God the Father and Joseph of God the Son. The eleven brothers are the picture of the false children of the Father who give lip service to Him but not their heart. They are unrepentant of their sin and insincere in their love of the Father. They want what they want and what He wants is of no consequence.

This is being played out in contemporary Christianity with great regularity. The so called Christian community is openly stating that God has no real repulsion of the sins that He has called abominations. There is great boldness in telling others that they love God and are called by His name while living in the very debauchery that He has called sin. Jacob was fooled. God isn’t. He laughs in derision at their vanity. While the eleven lied to their father Joseph still obeyed his. That is our call, our challenge, our duty in the face of those who make a mockery of Christianity.

Dear Father, Help us to stand firm in Christ while others defame Your Name. Amen

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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

It Should Come As No Surprise

“Before he came near them, they conspired to kill him.” Genesis 37:18

How often do the unrighteous conspire against the beloved to kill them? Jesus told the parable of the man who let out his vineyard and how the renters had beaten and killed all who came to them. Finally they said of the son, let us kill him and take possession of this vineyard. The sons of God have been and are a constant thorn in the flesh of the wicked. Satan is a murderer from the beginning and his hatred of God’s children knows no bounds.

American Christians think it odd that we are suddenly on the outs with the ideas and goals of a society dominated by the lost. It has always been this way. If we can’t be freely killed, we can still be freely hated. How did Joseph respond to this ill treatment? He went into bondage and served God rather than his own pleasures and he was ultimately rewarded greatly. We need to do likewise and keep God set before our eyes and not despair at the hatred of men.

Dear Father, Let our hearts not be weakened by those who hate us. Amen.

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Monday, August 3, 2015

Planning for a Permanent Address

“The kings who reigned in the land . . . Bela . . . and when Bela died” Genesis 36:31-33

As a child I remember singing the chorus, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through”. I didn’t like the song actually. It was too focused, I thought, on the temporary nature of our existence. I wanted something permanent and this song defied my desire. But like it or not, the song is true, this world is only a temporary stop over before eternity.

We humans like to think of ourselves permanent. We build things to insure our permanent condition. Ancient kings would build monuments to extol their power and remind their subjects just how great the king was. But the king, like everyone else, died. After death there is a fixed permanence. We will spend eternity somewhere. The chorus that bothered me reminded me, however, that I could put my treasures where permanence was real. Jesus charged us to prepare for our permanent home with more effort than our temporary one.

Dear Father, Help me be mindful of and preparing for my permanent home with you. Amen.

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