Faithful Servants

Genesis 43:20-25

In Scripture, servants were direct extensions of their masters. An example of this was evident in the previous lesson, where we read how Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, was indeed a man of faith, and righteous before the Lord. It’s very crucial (and beneficial for those who serve godly leaders) that men of God select those who are holy, full of the Spirit, righteous, and of good reputation to serve under their leadership. This is because, when God blesses the leader, those under his watch are blessed also. Also, leaders can expect humble and holy servants to adhere to, and obey their commands, without hesitation or contention. Servants who go against their master’s standards, cannot be trusted, thus must be removed and replaced immediately.

Remember when you were a kid, and you would select only the best kickers from a group of friends for your kickball team? You didn’t want anyone who was lazy or slow, but you desired the best of the bunch to represent your team. This is also true in the kingdom of God. While no man is perfect, we can all have prefect (mature and well-developed) faith. Eliezer was indeed a man after his master’s heart, and the man in our text served faithfully under Joseph also. After taking his once hard-hearted brothers through a brief season of rebuke and restoration, Joseph invited them all to join him in blessed reunion. Before the brothers were brought to Joseph’s presence, the steward of the house of Joseph met them at the door of the house. The steward was fully aware of Joseph’s plan for his brethren, and cared little about their explanation, but desired to fulfill his master’s plan to reunite him with his brothers. Although they were totally unaware what fate awaited them, Joseph’s brothers had many fears because of all the strange events they were experiencing. Fortunately, Joseph’s steward carried the spirit of his master, and showed hospitality to them all, including Simeon, whom they had kept in the house.

As a Christian, be mindful of those who work closely with you. We live in a world where Saints and sinners work closely together in most professions, but in the event God allows for you to manage or supervise fellow believers, be extremely grateful for the fact that you can not only work with other believers, but share with each other, the goodness of the Lord on a daily basis, as they operate in the same Spirit you walk in.

“Let your light shine so bright, until someone can see it in their valley moment.” – Ell

Without Love

1 Corinthians 13

Can you imagine what this world would be like, if love was nonexistent? The state of this present world is far from ideal, but remove love from it, and this earth would instantly become unimaginably more dark and corrupt. Without love, nothing would make sense. Life would be lived for vain purposes, gifts would be used to no avail, and the feelings that come with pure acts of love, would never be enjoyed.

Without love, there’s no need to prophesy, preach, teach, admonish, rebuke, or speak with tongues. All is futile, when love is absent from the equation. Love is what makes our deeds and actions meaningful. When we do things in love, it becomes more than a simple act of giving, but an opportunity to spread the goodness of God to all. God is love, so what we do for others must be done with the intentions of pleasing Him, and not ourselves.

Our text vividly expresses the extent to which God’s love is portrayed. We learn from the scriptures, that love is patient, kind, humble, respectful, generous, courteous, compassionate, caring, solid, true, pure, understanding, selfless, giving, and durable. Love is the thread that combines every line of text in the Bible. It’s because of love, God sent His Son to the earth, to give man another chance to enjoy the benefits he willingly handed over to the enemy. Love keeps us strong, in times when we feel like giving up. Love motivates us to meet every challenge of life, head on. Love inspires us to commit our ways to the Lord, while ignoring all temptation that tries to distract us. Love gives us a reason for living, and helps us understand the real purpose of life. Love never fails, never gives up, and always makes us better. Live your life in love, knowing that the love you abide in, is very love of God Himself.

“Let your light shine so bright, until someone can see it in their valley moment.” – Ell

GO TEAM GO!!!

Colossians 1:3-8

Of all that goes into a winning sports program, one of the groups that usually goes unnoticed, yet contributes greatly to their team’s success is, the cheerleaders. According to wikipedia, cheerleading is an activity in which the participants (called “cheerleaders”) cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity. It can also be performed to motivate sports teams, to entertain the audience, or for competition. Cheerleading routines typically range anywhere from one to three minutes, and combines variations of tumbling, dance, jumps, and stunts.

Cheerleaders don’t really get much respect, when compared to the athletes running on the field or court, but it’s always good to have someone in your corner rooting for your success, especially when the competition is intense, and overwhelming. One thing that offers certain benefits to the believer is, receiving encouragement from a brother or sister in Christ. Walking the path of righteousness isn’t always easy, and many are tempted to throw in the towel, but no matter how challenging the enemy makes things for the children of God, when they stand with and one mind, one focus, and one goal, they’ll always overcome any obstacle in their path.

Take time to encourage someone you love, and pour into them positive energy, that can help make their journey through life a little easier. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb 10:23-25).

“He died for me… I’ll live for Him.” – Ell

A Godly Man

Psalm 128

To fear God is, to reverence, honor, and respect Him simply for who He is. When a man has the fear of God in His heart, he’ll always be mindful of his actions, and conduct himself in ways that are befitting of a Saint. Godly men are blessed, not because of their mere profession, but because they imitate holiness consistently in their walk, talk, and even their thoughts. God can freely bless those who abide in Him, because they’ll more than likely represent Him well, and not bring shame to his holy name, but those who fail to recognize the power and authority of the God of Heaven and earth, will never enjoy the full benefits His love can offer.

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

Purpose Blockers

1 Samuel 23:14-18

The life of a Christian is hardly easy, and trials come by default, to make them stronger. Day by day, the children of God strive to live according to holiness, and take great delight in doing works meet for repentance, but the righteous path oftentime becomes hard to tread, especially when adversity rears its ugly head. In the same way God positions men in life to help His people along their journey, the devil also assigns willing individuals to try and block the people of God from fulfilling their purpose in the earth. Purpose blockers are just as the name implies, and they are relentless in halting God’s people from progressing in life. God has a unique plan for everyone who has been born again, but satan wants those plans to be derailed, and remain unfulfilled. Men go to great extremes to block the path of the righteous, and some go so far as to even threaten their very lives, but just as God protected David from multiple threats from king Saul, trust and believe, He’ll guard you against all evil that tries to block your path also.

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

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

Pharoah’s Ring

Genesis 41:41-49

Throughout the Bible, there are numerous underdog stories, that uplift those with heavy hearts, and encourage others with hung down heads, but of all the stories written, few compare to the life, and legacy of Joseph.

Born into a prestigious family line, Joseph was destined to continue in the footsteps of his predecessors. Like all feel-good stories, Joseph’s beginning was hard, harsh, and extremely cruel. From being hated by his own kin, to being imprisoned for false accusations, the servant of the Lord refused to allow his struggles and persecution to hinder his godly duties. How often do men turn away from God, and seek other sources for answers, when life hits them with seasons of trials and tribulations? Very often, from my perspective. The times we should cling to God most, is when trouble hits, because these are the very moments God desires to use us to accomplish great things.

Joseph’s patience, and endurance through his challenging season, paid off in an unprecedented way! From being literally thrown in a pit, then imprisoned, Joseph’s faithfulness to God awarded him the position of “ruler over all the land of Egypt” (vs. 43b). God may not make us kings, queens, and rulers over countries for our consistent holy living, but He can, and will bless His people in other ways. Whether we are blessed with good health, wealth, favor with man, healthy and obedient children, or any other good thing, staying true to God in the midst of hard times, will always work to the benefit of the Saints of God.

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

Ell

What A Wonderful World

Genesis 41:34-36

What kind of world would this be, if men weren’t so hungry for material possessions? I grew up under the philosophy of, “sharing is caring”, so it was natural for me to always extend a helping hand to anyone who needed one, even during my adolescent stage. As I matured, I began to notice how people were very selfish, and preferred to keep all their goods to themselves, rather than share what they had with others, who had little to none.

When a man receives the love of God in his heart, then allows that same love to blossom in his life, he’ll see things different from the way average men perceive things. If you take a poll on everyone who’s net worth exceeds a million dollars, I can guarantee you, most of them are insecure about their wealth, and keep a tight grip on it, without giving hardly any away. God is all about togetherness, unity, and humility, but the world teaches the philosophy of “get all you can, and can all you get”.

🎵🎶 If e-ve-ry bo-dy, was like Jesus, what a won-der-ful world, this would be 🎶🎵 (song performed by the late, great, and unique Inez Black). I wish I could wake up tomorrow, and see that the world was changed dramatically. I would jump for joy to see that racism had finally ceased, taxes disappeared, and all men treated one another, the same way they would desire to be treated. Well, that’s only wishful thinking, because men in this world will continue to grow worse. But, the hope we have in Christ Jesus, who went away to prepare a wonderful place for the Saints, keeps us motivated to endure this world of evil, until our time in this earth comes to its end. While we wait, let’s strive to be kind to one another, serve the Lord with gladness, smile to brighten someone’s day, and extend a helping hand, to those who are in need, especially if they are your enemy.

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

Ell

Who Said That?

Acts 13:1-5

When God speaks, can you tell whether it’s Him, or not? How do you discern the voices in your head, whether they are from the devil, the Father, or the spirit of your mind (conscience)? The best way to recognize when God is speaking to you (through His Spirit) is, to be in a position of proper posture, then you’ll be better prepared to discern what’s true, and what’s not.

As humans, we were created with intuitive minds, that have the capability of harboring endless thoughts in our brains. From those thoughts, we can discern what actions to take, based on the current situation we may be facing. Unfortunately, there’s also the devil, who oftentimes makes attempts to fill our minds with evil and wicked thoughts and vain imaginations. He does this in various ways, including infiltrating television shows, movies, music, and all other mediums to distract our attention from the things of God.

As a person matures in godliness, it becomes fairly easy for them to distinguish the different voices they hear. If at anytime, you are led to do something contrary to God, morality, or your sanity, then this voice is NOT from God. On the other hand, if you are striving to live holy, while keeping yourself pure and humble before the Lord, you’ll often hear clear and direct instruction, and revelation during times of prayer, fasting, or moments throughout your day.

God loves to have our attention tuned to Himself, because He alone knows what’s best for us, and how we can properly serve Him daily. It’s wise to follow and obey the voice of the Lord, but it’s foolish to place our own thoughts, or entertain thoughts from the evil one, over the Father. Pray to God for discernment and wisdom, so that you can always receive clear and precise instruction, on how to live your life with purpose.

If you die today, where will you spend eternity?

Ell

Don’t Hate, Appreciate

Genesis 37:2-11, 23-24, 28

If we could see life from God’s perspective, then our actions and behavior towards others would change in an instant. God sees the hearts of men, and judges them, not only by their actions, but by their motives and intentions as well. He desires the best for all mankind, but they must be willing to align themselves properly to receive His best.

Men are born in sin, shaped in iniquity, and are preset to fail. This was all made possible because of the fall of Adam. Because of sin, many are susceptible to becoming influenced by its wicked nature, which can cause them to inflict harm onto others. When our focus on godliness begins to waver, we make ourselves easy targets to become overtaken by all manner of evil spirits; some of which include lying, jealousy, envy, strife, gossip, and even thoughts of murder.

While it’s one thing to harbor ill will toward an enemy, it’s worse when the person you’re at odds with is a member of your own family. Throughout history, most family dissension stemmed from hatred, jealousy, and envy. Our text gives one example of such a situation, when Jacob’s sons proved how hatred and envy can cause men to commit horrendous acts, even toward those of the same blood. Although the hate Joseph’s brothers felt toward him was triggered by his preferential treatment of their father, they were still old enough to know that they should control their emotions, and not allow sin to overtake their thoughts. Unfortunately, their initial level of hate for their little brother was increased the more, after Joseph shared dreams of how he would someday rule over them. It’s hard to tell from Scripture, whether Joseph was being boastful, or just trying to be a normal little brother, in any case, his very presence struck an irritating nerve in the hearts of all his brothers, who eventually threw him in a pit, from which he was sold as a slave to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver.

What a shame, to read how blood-kin can threaten to kill one of their own, because of hatred and envy. Do you allow your feelings to cause you to treat your brothers or sisters different? Can you appreciate when someone in your family receives a blessing from God, or do you become jealous, and turn hostile toward them? Be very careful how you treat those who only desire to be loved, because if you push them away, God will make it so that you’ll definitely see them again; only next time, you may be surprised to see what they have become.

If you die today, where will you spend eternity?

Ell