Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

January 31, 2019

by Pastor Hawtree

BIBLE READING: ACTS 7

9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

The “patriarchs” mentioned here were the brothers of Joseph. Here in the New Testament, we are given some history from the Old Testament. We are reminded about the life of Joseph. We learned so much from Joseph’s life, which is why he is such a large part of the Old Testament and is brought up at different times in the New Testament. Today let me just give you a quick, crash course reminder of how Joseph’s life can help you today.

JOSEPH HAD PROBLEMS
He had family that did him wrong. He had an employer that did him wrong. He had friends that did him wrong. He had people make promises that they did not keep. He had problems.

JOSEPH HAD GOD’S PRESENCE
Despite all the problems that Joseph faced, “God was with Him”. That is a reminder today, as I’m sure you may face a few problems today, that God is with you. We are never alone, and we never face anything alone.

JOSEPH HAD GOD’S PROTECTION
God “delivered him out of all his afflictions.” What is interesting, it does not say that God made it where Joseph never had to face any afflictions. Some of the afflictions Joseph not only faced but was in them for a long period of time. The passage tells us that God eventually delivered him out of all of them. It doesn’t say how, when, or where God will do it, we just know that He will. What a wonderful promise for us to remember today.

JOSEPH HAD GOD’S PROVISION
God “gave him favour”. It doesn’t matter what wrong others are trying to do to you, when God gives you favor, that overcomes everything else. Why don’t we ask for God’s favor today. Let’s live in a way where God can give that to us.

GOD GAVE JOSEPH PERSPECTIVE
God gave Joseph “wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh”. This wisdom did not change Joseph’s circumstances, it changed how Joseph viewed his circumstances. It changed how Joseph reacted to his circumstances. It changed Joseph’s attitude about his circumstances. We sure do need God’s wisdom today.

GOD GAVE JOSEPH POSITION
God “made him governor over Egypt and all his house”. Talk about God giving you victory over your circumstances. God literally put Joseph above the very ones that had done him wrong. Do you know that’s the position that you and I have in Christ? Because of Christ, we have a position above our enemies, above our circumstances, and above our problems. We are already there. We just don’t act like it sometimes. I encourage you today that God has given you a position through Christ today. God has positioned you above the things that normally bring you down.