16th. September 2020. Daily Devotion
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come close to me.’ When they had done so, he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Genesis 45:4-5
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
The story of Joseph illustrates how even resentment, evil and calamity can be pressed into the service of God’s good purposes. Here is a comment on these thoughts:
“the Lord does what is right” (Psalm 11:7). God never gives up. When Joseph was dropped into a pit by his own brothers, God didn’t give up. When Moses said, “Here I am, send Aaron,” God didn’t give up. When the delivered Israelites wanted Egyptian slavery instead of milk and honey, God didn’t give up. When Peter worshiped him at the supper and cursed him at the fire, he didn’t give up.
And when human hands fastened the divine hands to a cross with spikes, it wasn’t the soldiers who held the hands of Jesus steady. It was God who held them steady. God, who would give up his only Son before he’d give up on you. ~from Six Hours One Friday
Prayers
To Help Others
Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am – a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under my authority, my friends and my enemies. Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervour. Help me to forget myself and reach out towards others. Amen
Dedication
Lord, in humility I thank you and glorify you, that you will hear the prayer of one so small as myself, amidst the billions of souls among billions of stars in one of billions of galaxies in your universe. Let me go my way in your peace, keeping your Spirit always in my mind; and bless me, I pray, that I may always follow your will and live in the radiance of your blessing. Amen.
You have a special purpose for me
“This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad.”
Sometimes it is difficult to pray that wonderful prayer.
That may be true for many of us during this time
of isolation and fear of the virus.
Yet I know, Lord, that you have a special purpose for me today.
Give me the peaceful confidence
that everything works together for my good.
Despite problems today, is a gift that I can share in some way. Amen.
