Wednesday Thought -- October 16, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, ‘Make way!’ Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.’” (Genesis 41:39-44)

Joseph was a young man with grand dreams when he lived in the house of his father. He dreamed that one day his brothers, and even his father, would bow down to him. But as a young man, Joseph never dreamed a dream as grand as that which God had in store for him. Not just his brothers and father, but the whole nation of Egypt – the most powerful land in the world – would bow to him.

Remember, though, that it wasn’t for Joseph’s glory that God raised him to the place of leadership to which he came. It wasn’t because God wanted to pat Joseph on the back and let him know how great he was. It wasn’t to pay Joseph for the earlier pain that he had experienced at the hands of his brothers and then his master. No, God raised Joseph to his place of leadership to save the nation of Israel from the famine that was coming. God put him there to serve His kingdom and to accomplish His will.

This was the place that God had ordained for Joseph. It was the way God had chosen for him to serve. Joseph had prepared himself to serve the Lord by maintaining righteousness and developing sensitivity to the Lord. When God called, Joseph was ready to step into the place of service God had for him.

And God has a place and time of service for every man and woman. Not every place is as grand as Joseph’s place was, but every place contributes to God’s purposes and will.

Like Joseph, are you preparing yourself for the place of service God has for you by maintaining righteousness and developing sensitivity to the Lord? Who knows when God’s call might come – will you be ready to hear it?

His, by Grace,

Steve