August 25
2The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master… 6So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing-except what kind of food to eat! (Genesis 39:2-6, Life Application Study Bible)
Blessed Friday Fam! I have started to read the Holy Bible from cover-to-cover, following a new 9-month reading plan. I reached the beginning of Joseph’s story, which is probably my favorite story in the Old Testament. In Genesis Chapter 39, Moses writes how the Lord was with Joseph and blessed him, and then through Joseph, God also blessed Potiphar (the captain of the guard for Pharaoh). God blessed Potiphar’s household with such prosperity that we see in the verses above, Potiphar did not have to worry about a thing, except “what kind of food to eat!”
This is the first story to help explain the Prosperity Gospel, that God blesses those who live faithfully and walk in His righteous ways with wealth and prosperity. We all should know this is not true, there are many who live faithful and righteous lives, but struggle financially and are not worried about what “kind of food” to eat, but if they will have any food to eat. While this snapshot does show that God will bless some with wealth and power, the Jesus Way teaches us that with such blessings comes the enormous responsibility to bless others, which Joseph eventually does when he enables Egypt to supply food for hundreds of thousands during the seven years of famine, but we’ll get to that tomorrow. So if you look at your life and realize that God is with you, and has blessed you with the ability to only worry about “what kind of food” to eat, and not if you will be able to put any food on the table, I pray you constantly look for ways to help others, and be the blessing God intended you to be. I know it is hard, but Jesus never said it would be easy.
Yesterday, I shared Mr. Phil Wickham’s new album’s title track. I hope you watched the video for “I Believe” yesterday. This is another wonderful video of a room full of beautiful people creating a joyful sound in their adoration to the Lord. Before I get to this week’s new music releases, I want to share one more cut from Big Phil’s amazing new collection. “Isn’t He Good”, is a perfectly fitting, toe-tapping, anthem for today’s verses and devotion.
Common Sense Reborn 