A Right Spirit

Genesis 44:1-13

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23 KJV). Every person who has ever lived (with the exception of Jesus Christ), has done something that required God’s gift of salvation. In fact, simply being born of man’s sinful seed, makes a person sinful by default, and primed for iniquity. But, thanks be to God, for His grace, mercy, and righteousness, we can all be redeemed, and forgiven from our faults.

Forgiveness is a wonderful thing, and showing consistent signs of repentance through one’s lifestyle proves to others, that one indeed has received a right spirit. Many make mistakes, then verbally admit they have changed from the error of their ways, but the real proof of one’s changed heart can be witnessed through how they live on a consistent basis.

God cares for all men, more so for those who diligently seek Him, but He will present opportunities for His people to prove that what they profess is actually truth. An example of this can be seen in the way Joseph tried and tested the hearts of his brethren. While he could have simply greeted his brothers, and told them all that he had gone through, Joseph decided to first make sure his kin folk weren’t still up to evil deeds. God desires to bless all His children greatly, but He will never spoil His gifts on those who will abuse, misuse, or defile His great blessings.

Joseph’s plan was very successful in revealing that the hearts of his brothers were indeed changed, and this was proven by the renting of their clothes, which was the ultimate sign of genuine honesty, sincerity, and deep mourning. Sin has the ability to cause years of hurt, pain, and shame, but forgiveness, coupled with a changed lifestyle, can bring about restoration that can reunite even the most difficult relationships.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Sticky Situation

Genesis 43:1-15

In most churches around the world, children are taught very early, the importance of Ephesians 6:1-3 which reads, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” The average Christian parent willingly seeks to raise their children in the fear of the Lord, so that as they mature, they’ll gradually develop in knowledge, understanding, and reverence of who He really is. Parents want the best for their children, and desire to steer them in the right direction, so they hold a firm stance toward obedience. But, is it ever ok for a child to disobey their parent’s command?

That question may have tickled a few ears, but should children really do everything their parents tell them to, even if it could cause potential harm to them? Our text gives a great example of this precise situation. After seeing their little brother for the first time in years, and assuming he was probably long dead, Joseph’s brothers were met with a rude awakening, when Joseph thought it wise to teach them a lesson for the past error of their ways. There’s no doubt Joseph was elated to see his brethren (it’s apparent he didn’t hold a grudge, nor develop hate toward them), but he desired more so to see his father and younger brother, Benjamin with his own eyes.

After being sent back to their land, and given instructions to return with Benjamin, Joseph’s brothers told their Father Jacob, all that Joseph had told them. After hearing that “the man” commanded them to bring young Benjamin back to him, Jacob was literally heartbroken. He couldn’t afford to lose another son, especially from the wife he had worked over 14 years to marry.

As time passed, and food begin to become scarce, due to the famine, Jacob told his boys to return to Egypt, to buy more food. Judah spoke out and said (in Ell’s translation), “Dad, we already told you, that dude back in Egypt, warned us not to return without Benjamin. I know you love him as you did Joseph, but I’m gonna have to disobey you on this one pops.” Obviously, this didn’t sit well with Jacob, but he was eventually convinced to comply.

Were Judah and his brothers wrong for agreeing to disobey their father, because it could have potentially cost them their lives, or should they have gone against the words of the ruler of Egypt, and returned without Benjamin? Things that make you go, hmm.

There’s a valuable lesson in this story, that all could benefit from. When it comes to obeying God, while possibly upsetting your parents or others, choose God. Never allow anyone, including those you look up to most, to take precedence over the Word of God, because at the end of the day, only what God says really matters anyway. Also, be mindful not to be disrespectful to those in authority, but be certain when following another man’s orders, it doesn’t contradict how God commanded you to live.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Let God Lead

Psalm 43

🎵🎶 When I am afraid, I will trust in you,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you.
When I am afraid, I will trust in you,
In God whose word I praise.
When I am afraid,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you.
When I am afraid I will trust in you,
In God whose word I praise.
In God I trust, when I am afraid.
In God I trust, in God whose word I praise
When I am afraid,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you,
I will trust in you.
When I am afraid I will trust in you,
In God whose word I praise.
I TRUST YOU LORD I REALLY DO 🎶🎵
-Song by Steve Green

Journeying through life will present moments when finding our way will appear dark and dim, but the only way to see the path of righteousness during times of darkness is, by trusting in God’s light, and His truth. The Word of God is the only way to safely navigate and traverse through these troubled times, so never lean to your own understanding. Instead, let God lead you in the way you should go.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Another Story

Genesis 42:6-25

What if, after all God did for Joseph, from keeping him safe in the pit, protected during slavery, appreciated in prison, to becoming ruler over all Egypt, he decided not to forgive his brothers from the way they dealt with him as a child? I strongly believe, there would be an entirely different story written in chapter 42 of the book of Genesis. If Joseph had refused to show kindness to his brothers, their entire family line (with the exception of himself), would have perished in the famine, and this would have no doubt caused major rifts in biblical genealogies, as the sons of Jacob fathered many who were prominent figures in Scripture.

It’s amazing how one sin, can cause a lifetime of trouble. Even in our own lives, I can say with confidence, that if given the chance, there are quite a few choices you would change, without hesitation. Bad decisions have lingering consequences, many of which never seem to go away, so it’s vital that we walk in obedience to God, and avoid making careless mistakes along our journey. God knew that Joseph would forgive his brothers, and supply all their needs, when the time came. This is why he was elevated to 2nd in command in Egypt. God also knows whether we will slip and fall, or stand strong, so He allows, or disallows certain things to happen in our lives as well. Strive to always make wise decisions, and never refuse to show love to your haters, because God allowed you to be blessed, just so you could bless some of them. Don’t take the blessings of God for granted, neither hold grudges against those who’ve caused you grief. Instead, as you have freely received from God, freely give to those in need.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Eternal Emotions

Genesis 42:35-38

What is it about the human heart, that allows for it to experience both ends of the emotional spectrum and all the roller coaster feelings in between; sometimes all within mere moments of time? Being made in the image of God the creator, and after His very own likeness, mankind was designed in a very unique, and incomparable fashion. Without trying to sound braggadocious or anything of the sort, but God made us super special, in a variety of ways! Man has the ability to think, think about what they’re thinking about, then decide which thought to act upon. We can feel hurt, pain, and shame on the inside, without any physical signs of its occurrence on the outside.

Men are physical, spiritual, and soulful beings, created to exhibit the most incredible works of the One who made all things. I’ve often wondered, why did God make us so emotional, or allow for us to feel things, some of which aren’t favorable. For example, losing something, or someone that holds a special place in your heart, brings a hurt that is unlike anything else. In the Bible, Jacob thought he had lost his “favorite” son, Joseph, which left a huge hole in his heart. This pain caused him to cling even more tightly to his youngest son, Benjamin. In the same way a physical scar heals, yet continues to reveal a scar, Jacob carried the scar of supposedly losing his son, for years (until he discovered he was actually alive).

Losing a loved one never feels good, especially if they left us with unresolved issues. For this reason, I advise all men to appreciate those who remain in your life, and love them unconditionally, because you never know when will be the last time you’ll see them. In addition, sympathize, and emphasize with those who may have lost someone dear to their hearts, because it’ll never be easy for them for the rest of their life.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Hearts Of Repentance

Genesis 42:29-34

To what lengths would you go, to save the life of someone you love? The story of the life of Joseph is filled with many valuable lessons, that can all benefit anyone who desires to be more like God. In our text, Joseph was very careful not to reveal his identity to his brothers suddenly, as he perhaps desired to uncover the truths of his younger brother Benjamin, and his father Jacob. Joseph knew how vile and malicious the hearts of his older brothers were, so he was wise in his initial approach toward them.

The text reads that Joseph spake roughly with them, no doubt to bring back to their remembrance, how they willingly planned to end his young life. Through God’s wisdom, Joseph’s strategy worked. After a moment of harsh, yet necessary dealings with his brethren, Joseph caused the once unruly men to finally face the truth of their actions toward him as a child. It’s hard to get over being hurt, especially when it comes by the hands of family, but time always has a way of reminding your persecutors that their ungodly acts toward you, will always work against them, until they repent.

Joseph was able to endure extreme hardships, receive the highest honor as ruler of Egypt, and be reunited with his father and younger brother once again. Joseph’s brothers thought selling him into slavery would be his end, but God sent the young lad on a journey, to eventually preserve their very own lives. Your life may not seem to be all that and a bag of chips at the moment, but keep on pressing on, and watch how God orchestrates the events of your life, to serve His life-changing purpose.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Wounded Love

Genesis 42:26-28

Do you find it easy for you to give, after you’ve been hurt, or do you cling to your possessions, not trusting that your acts of love and kindness will be appreciated by those whom you’ve forgiven? When a man abides in the love of God, it causes him to behave differently from those who are unaware of what His love truly stands for. God’s love is “patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV).

It should never be hard for a Christian to bless others, even after experiencing hurt and shame. This was proven to be true in our text, where Joseph not only blessed his brothers with food supplies, but he secretly returned the money which they used to buy the goods. This simple, yet commendable act says a great deal about the character of Joseph. It was proven that he had forgiven his brothers, by the selfless acts of love he rendered to him.

As you continue on your journey through life, be mindful not to hold grudges against those who have wronged you. Instead, keep your heart open to forgive them, and your hands extended to offer a helping hand (within reason, of course… also be mindful of those who willingly try to take advantage of your kindness, and allow the Holy Ghost to give you discernment to know the difference).

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Oohhh Be Careful…

Genesis 42:1-5

One of the most influential lessons I’ve learned in life was, be careful how you treat a person, because you never know when you may need their help. Oftentimes, it’s a hard pill to swallow, requesting assistance from someone you’ve wronged severely and repeatedly, but receiving help from others comes easy, when you learn to show genuine love and respect toward them consistently.

Joseph’s brothers treated him unfairly, and refused to appreciate his gift, while choosing rather to see him suffer, than prosper. It’s sad and disheartening, when your own family treats you as if you were their enemy, rather than their own kin. But, through all his suffering, shame, and disappointment, God allowed Joseph to be blessed beyond his imagination.

Joseph was purposed to be blessed for many reasons, but also to lend a helping hand to those same brothers who sold him into slavery. During the time when the struggle through the famine became intense, Jacob commanded his sons to go to Egypt for food. After pondering on this lesson for a while, I’m convinced, Joseph knew he’d run into his brothers again, and God had placed him in a position that the average person would never reach during those days, so being in the presence of his jealous and cruel brothers, would definitely have a different flavor this go ’round. Despite the way he was treated, Joseph showed true love toward his brothers.

Can you show real love to someone who deliberately hurt you? Can you forgive, and bless that person who sought only to kill your hopes and dreams? Is your faith strong enough to endure suffering for a season, so that God can elevate you to a place from which you can bless those who caused all your suffering? Chew on that for a moment…

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Why Pray?

Luke 23:9-15

Why pray, when it seems like God isn’t listening? Why pray, when the world continues to deteriorate, before our very eyes? Why pray, when the enemy works diligently, to defame the reputation of the church, and those who were once strong in the faith, have taken sides with that wicked one? Why pray, when those we love battle for years with sickness and pain, never seeming to get better? Why pray, when our family, friends, and others suffer untimely deaths, regardless of our fervent petitions? Why pray, when evil, vile, and corrupt men continue to thrive, and live successful lives, while the members of Christ’s body struggle to live from paycheck to paycheck? Why pray, when social injustice, “systemic racism”, and all other forms of unethical treatment toward minorities, continues to reign in lands with “organized governments”? What’s the point of praying, when bad things continue to happen to good people? Well, I’d like to pass the mic to a great friend of mine, and allow Him a moment to share His thoughts on the aforementioned questions…

…”Why did I choose to leave Heaven, to come down to the earth? Why did I give up riches, royalty, position, and authority, in order to take on the form of a created, lower being? Why did I willingly endure hurt, shame, lies, abuse, threatenings, beatings, slander, hate, injustice, ridicule, being misunderstood, despised, abhorred, detested, loathed, scolded, battered, spit on, pierced in the side, whipped, and torture beyond belief, when I held the power to instantly vanquish all who rejected me? Why did I suffer, and lay down my life, so that those same men who disfigured my mortal body, could one day be forgiven, and receive the gift of salvation?” Okay Jesus, I’ll take it from here. Whew!

Have you considered lately, how intense the suffering of Jesus actually was, or have you read all the things the apostle Paul endured, while still writing books of the Bible? Life is tough, I won’t deny that, but we pray to God to acknowledge that He holds all power in Heaven, and in earth, and while He can step in and right all the wrongs in the earth, He must allow His will to be done. Sin caused nothing but chaos and destruction in the earth, but God will soon rectify all wrong, then purify His people for all eternity. We may have to suffer a while in this life, but don’t allow your struggles, to keep you from communicating with God. Our Father knows, and sees all that’s going on, but we should continue to pray that His will be done, even in times when we don’t understand what it actually is.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell

Repent, And Keep Moving

Psalm 51:1-12

When a Saint falls, their number one priority should be to first seek repentance from God, then allow Him to cleanse them from their error. Oftentimes, when we stumble, we tend to care more about the opinions of others, rather than coming before the Lord to seek forgiveness. While those who are the body of Christ should strive to represent holiness at all times to the world, when they veer off track, their first conversation should be with God alone. Man has no power to forgive sin, but God has all power, and He alone can purge, wash, and restore us back to our rightful place in Him. Throughout our lifetime, we will fall short of God’s glory, but because of Jesus, we can approach the Throne of Grace, and have our iniquities washed away.

King David, a man after God’s own heart, was responsible for committing two ungodly acts, that caused much misery and pain in his future. But, rather than blame others, or try to sweep those situations under the rug, the king repented, and sought reconciliation with the One Whom he had transgressed against.

God loves His people, but He hates when we sin. Everytime we submit to sin, we acknowledge that what we allowed to gain our attention, was more important than what God warned us against. For this reason, we should always get convicted when we mess up, because this proves that we are aware of our actions, and aren’t fixed on making sin habitual.

After king David messed up, then repented, he committed the rest of His life to service to God. Never allow your sin and mistakes to cause you to lose faith in God. We are born in sin, and shaped in iniquity, so it’s only natural for our flesh to desire things of the world. But, when we put off the old man, and gird ourselves with the new and improved, God fills us with His Spirit, that helps make avoiding sin a lot more easier, than trying to resist the devil on our own.

We live this life for purpose and reason, but not too long, for only a season.

Ell