Even in Egypt Part 2

In the midst of the strangeness of Egypt, Joseph never lost his identity as a child of God. He remained an example of the believers in purity. (1Tim4:12). Contrary to the opinion of an adage I'd always heard when people talk about influence, which I'd like to paraphrase in English, "When a leaf stays long with a bar of soap, with time, the leaf itself becomes soap". This implies that the leaf leaves it's original identity by virtue of the long term stay with the soap and takes on the identity of its present habitat, thereby becoming a soap itself. By then, there would be no distinction between the leaf and the soap!

Are we beginning to leave our foundation? Are we beginning to be romanced by the affairs of this world, so much so that we can't be differentiated from the world? Are we beginning to act, react, talk, think, live and do business like the world?

Well, we can't afford to. The cost can never ever be paid. Brother John through the Holy Ghost makes an injunction; "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boastings of what he has and does - COMES NOT FROM THE FATHER but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever".( 1 John2:15-17).

Here's our own Egypt - The world. Yes! The world. We must strive not to lose focus and be determined to give the race all it takes. The Holy Spirit is reliable and trustworthy. We can always depend on him and draw strength from each day. It's really not an easy task trying to live right in a wrong world, but we can always count on God's sufficient grace to help and see us through. (Hebrews 4:14-16).

At the moment, you might think you've gone way past redemption, " Hell no! I ain't Joseph", you exclaim. I'd like to bring you a word of assurance. No man, I repeat, no man is way past redemption. There's still a chance to make amends, get your acts right and present yourself to God in genuine repentance. He'll take you in, just as you are, even in Egypt.

Action Point:
Make a decision to work consciously and deliberately to live right even in 'Egypt' by adopting the weapon of reliance on the Holy Ghost for help in this race.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to stand and live for you even in Egypt. Give me all that it takes not to deny you, in good or bad times in Jesus Name.

With Love,

Holy Spirit in Omotola

Even in Egypt Part 1

Well, I may not be able to tell what Egypt connotes to you; but for a young man named Joseph, Egypt meant "strange". It was an entirely different place, with diverse customs and traditions contrary and totally estranged from where he originated.

Beyond the strangeness, Egypt was a hurting reminder of how he was betrayed, not by unknown persons, but by his own flesh and blood - His brothers.(Gen 37: 28).

What's striking about this young man is the fact that he never lost focus. I can be sure that the "foreignness of Egypt" must have enticed him, clamoured for his attention, persuaded him to lose focus and get carried away by all the fanciful but ungodly things right there, but Joseph wasn't one to be deterred. He was too aligned with God to be pulled off, too entangled in His love to be easily won with glittering gold and free sex offer from a seductress.

Let's come to think of it and assume Joseph said a yes to Mrs. Potiphar. Doesn't it strike us that he would have enhanced his chances of serving longer with Mr. Potiphar and also enjoy a strong job guarantee in a strange land as a slave boy? Why do I have such an opinion about his positive response to such an irresistible offer ? Because, young and charming Joseph would have Mrs. Potiphar cringing before him and desiring that their escapades behind her husband should remain top secret... Or what kind of wife, however bad, would have no problems with such a terrible blackmail?

However, Joseph knew better. He would rather suffer for standing for God than smile for standing with men.

What's the Bottom Line here: don't have a temporary mindset. When the going gets tough, the tough are meant to get going. We have the divine ability to outlast all seasons. That's how character is formed, through bypassing temporary pleasures to get future rewards.

Could we just take a few seconds and talk to God in prayer?

Prayer:
Father, please give me grace to stand for you at every point in time. When standing for you would cost me something and when it would cost me nothing. Amen.

With Love,

Holy Spirit in Omotola