Hello FBC Family!
But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
(Genesis 39:21)
What a great chapter in the Bible! I love the story of Joseph. I appreciated the devotional in my Bible this morning that talked about Gen. 39, and I’d like to share some of it with you:
“Moses’ narrative voice-over at both the beginning and the end of the account states that Joseph was successful because the Lord was
with him (v. 2-3, 21-23)… And here Joseph shines because he knew that God was with him as he refused Mrs. Potiphar’s advances, declaring to her, ‘How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?’ (v. 9). The grand deterrent to the seductive pleas was Joseph’s awareness that God is present and sees all, and that a sin no one else knows about, committed behind locked doors in a dark room, is actually committed in the presence of a holy God… How does the story of Joseph intersect with our lives today? It does so beautifully and powerfully in the incarnation of Christ the Messiah, who is Immanuel, ‘God with us’ (Matt. 1:23). Brothers, the key to our day-to-day success is to believe this with all our being, and conduct every moment of life in the dazzling reality of Christ’s presence.” (R. Kent Hughes, ESV Men’s Devotional Bible
, p. 45).
This Sunday we will conclude our series on Zephaniah, “Mighty to Save” with a message on chapter 3 entitled, “He Will Rejoice Over You.” Please read this amazing chapter before Sunday and be here with us as we look together at this great text. After words of judgment and warning, there is a powerful message of hope here, especially in verse 17. That would be a great verse to chew on for a while if you ever wonder about God’s love for you!
Starting the following Sunday, I plan to begin a series on Paul’s letter to Titus called “God Our Savior.” This is an amazing New Testament letter filled with great doctrine and great lessons for our living of the Christian life. One of the reasons for wanting to go through Titus together is because it can be a great unifier for us as we encounter truth together about our common faith. I’d like to encourage all of us to read through Titus a number of times in preparation for this series, and even while the series is going on. What draws us together as a church family is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and our common faith in the One true God, our Savior!
I’m looking forward to our time together this Sunday. Don’t miss it!
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael