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| One of our award-winning local non-profits is The Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina. This 2011 Calendar photo was taken in our county, Yancey. These blocks are actual quilt patterns, and there are stories written to tell why the owners chose particular patterns. Trail guides are available and are a wonderful way to see this beautiful area. |
The big lesson in the OT Reading - in spite of the circumstances, Joseph remains faithful to the Lord, and the Lord remains faithful to Joseph. (Gen 39-40)
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Seduced by the boss’s wife - she said, “Lie with
me.” AND GET THIS. “he refused and said
to the Master’s wife, …he has kept back nothing from me but you….How can I do
this great wickedness and sin against God”…
I wonder how our lives, how our businesses,
our churches, our nations would be different…if we had…if we will… say no to
all sin, lust, wickedness because of God, because of hurting others as well…I
wonder how this might affect our children’s choices in drugs, alcohol, premarital sex – if
they saw the example of their parents.
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An escalation of seduction – she tears off his
robe (11-13). But HE FLED. We are told this often in the Bible…get away from, flee from, have nothing to do
with, separate yourself from sin and wickedness…what if WE did this? – every time,
regardless of the consequences?
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Blame/Lies/False Accusations/Schemes Gen. 39: 14-19…Why do we not understand this?
Those who will commit adultery will also
lie and destroy lives knowingly, deliberately.
If they do this evil WITH you, they will do this and other evil AGAINST
you…The Bible asks, “Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots?”
(Jeremiah 13:23)
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Imprisoned – unjustly/wrongly. Again, the Lord blesses him. Again, Joseph is a blessing to others. Gen.
20 – 40. Joseph is betrayed by the one
he helped. The butler forgets – for 2 years! – to remember Joseph to the king for his goodness in
interpreting the dream.
While we leave Joseph in the prison alone, we go
to the Psalm and Proverb study that further drive home these lessons:
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God, where are you in all this trouble? (Ps. 10)
– The wicked are persecuting the poor, catching them in the plots they have
devised, boasting of their heart’s desire, blessing the greedy, renouncing, not
seeking God, God is in none of their thoughts, yet they are always prospering,
not caring about Your judgments, sneering at their enemies, saying they will
never be caught, never be in adversity, and they are full of cursing, deceit,
oppression, trouble, iniquity, lurking in secret places, murdering the
innocent, secretly fixing their eyes on the helpless, lying in wait secretly to
catch the poor in his net, crouching low to catch him by his strength…saying
God will not see, God has forgotten, God hides his face… I love the Psalms and
the Bible for telling it like it is – all our doubts, all our screaming out to
God, all the warts – ours and the saints – exposed…seen and heard by the God of
the Universe. Tomorrow we read God’s
answer to these cries and Joseph’s trials.
For those of us crying out the
same laments to God, a reminder in the meantime: Hebrews 4:12-14 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked
and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” God WILL arise, He WILL answer, He DOES see –
in His time, in His way. That answer may
be a long time in coming – even in eternity. This is about Him, His Plan, His
purposes.
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Proverbs 4: 1-6 continues on this theme of godly
responses to life – hear instruction…give attention to understanding, good
doctrine…do not forsake my law…retain my words…keep my commandments…do not
forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.
Joseph remembered and lived God’s Word regardless of – in spite of –
because of – his circumstances. Do I?
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Matthew 13 – the parables – the kingdom of
Heaven on earth– like a field planted with the good seed and an enemy planting tares
among them – (Joseph's situation and ours) The kingdom is also like a merchant
seeking beautiful pearls, like leaven in bread, like a dragnet with both good
and bad being brought up. We live now
among evil, but there will come the eternal separation at His Hands. Until then, we are called to be separate – to
live for God in newness of life – not as the world lives. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God.” Hebrews 12:1-4
‘It is true I may appear to be a loser by
refusing evil company, but it is better to leave my cloak than lose my
character. It is not essential to be
rich, but it is incumbent upon me to be pure.
No ties of friendship, no desire for beauty, no display of talent, no
threat of ridicule should be able to turn me from the wise resolve to flee from
sin. I am to “resist the devil, and he
will flee from me.”’ James 4:7 Morning by Morning by Charles H.
Spurgeon
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