Seventeen and Prison Cells (again)

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Seventeen and Prison Cells

Genesis 39:1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt.  And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. [source]

Can we by any stretch of our imaginations visualize how Joseph was feeling standing there on the slave block?  Let us recall that Joseph was about 17 when his brothers ‘gifted’ him with a ticket to Egypt.  Seventeen and previously rich.  Seventeen and the favored son. Seventeen and a former clothes horse, we might say; remember that coat of many colors that ONLY he had.  Seventeen and a dreamer of dreams that he did not keep to himself; which contributed to landing him on the slave block. What emotions do you imagine were coursing through his veins?  Do you think he ever asked God, why?  Do you think he would have understood if God had answered him immediately? Let us step into Joseph’s shoes when we are asking ‘Why, God, why’? As we read Joseph’s story, we can readily see the why God why for Joseph.  And I dare say one day when we look back over our lives, when this present circumstance (story) is told, we too will see why God why.  But for now, let us choose to take comfort and find strength the way Joseph did.Verse 2: The LORD was with Joseph . . .  .   Verse 5: . . . the LORD blessed . . . for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. [source]

This GOD who loved/loves Joseph loves YOU (and me) no less than He loved (loves) Joseph.  Will HE do less for YOU (or me) than HE did for Joseph? Not if we will set our minds and our souls to obey Him.  Read more about Joseph.  Read how he obeyed.  Read how ABBA responded to Joseph’s obedience.  We might learn something and we just might garner some motivation to do likewise, even from our own ‘prison cells’.
Remember! Remember the Last Thing our children and grandchildren and we ourselves need is to compromise, neglect and fail to LIVE SCRIPTURE.
Romans 12:19 (New King James Version) 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. [source]
And tomorrow maybe we will be blessed with another verse to ask ourselves are we obeying this consistently. 
ABBA, It’s been a fruitful day, I think and I am grateful.  Thank You.  I pray now that You will use the words on this page to minister to the minds and souls of our IDOKs and Readers.  I pray Your Word will empower us and change us for Your glory and our good.  I pray for a compelling will to love You and live Your Word.   And we pray for friends and family and the many needs of our people listed here; that each one will receive from You what they are hoping and praying for and if that is not Your Will, we expect for them better than they are praying.   We pray for our IDOK Troops, for their safety and protection; for peace of mind too and safe and sound returns home — please, LORD.    And as I put this edition to ‘bed’ I ask You to quiet and give rest to each one on this email list and to any that will stop by the webpage – You know who that will be even now and I pray for them that You will minister to them then and now.  That now, tonight, they will rest and be refreshed and that in the morning when they awaken You will be first on their minds and Your Holy Name, giving You praise will be the first words they utter.  Thank You, ABBA.  We love you too.

Kathie

1 John 4:19 (New King James Version) 19 We love Him because He first loved us.  [source]