Day 30 - Week 5 Day 2 Called to Lead

Today’s Reading (Bible in 1 Year) links to online readings are at the end of the blog

Genesis 42

Psalm 28

Isaiah 25

Matthew 20:17 - End of 20


Thoughts for today


1 Yesterday we talked about the great equalizer.  Today we are seeing some of that start to show up in Genesis as the story of Joseph continues.


Starting with our reading in Matthew 20, we see part of Jesus' response to the mom of the sons of Zebedee.  She asked Jesus to put her 2 sons on his left and right in His Kingdom (mom’s typically want the best for their kids don’t they?).  Jesus responds with “You do not know what you are asking.”  Jesus explains why  and eventually says in verses 26 and 27 “...whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”  Did you see that?  God in the form of man came to serve!


We are starting to see this in the story of Joseph.  Joseph became a slave and a prisoner but God had something bigger and better in mind.  God allowed all these bad things to happen to Joseph first:  He allowed Joseph’s  brothers to act on their hate,  He allowed Potiphar's wife to accuse Joseph causing Joseph to be put in prison and He allowed both of Joseph’s cellmates to forget to talk to Pharaoh on his behalf.  However, God gifted Joseph to be able to interpret dreams, and this led Pharaoh to put Joseph in a place of leadership. Joseph would now serve from a place of leadership.  We will see in the next couple of chapters how his brothers thought themselves to still be better than Joseph but eventually recognize it as God’s plan.  I’m looking forward to reading the rest of Joseph’s story.


Where we live, I see a lot of striving for wealth.  I’m sure where I live is no different than anywhere else in North America.  The trap in the pursuit of wealth is that it can put blinders on a person in such a way that they don’t see the needs around them.  Please note, I am not saying it’s wrong to be wealthy.  But, just as Jesus came to serve, we are here to serve as well.  Sylvia and I have a tight budget and I had considered continuing to work to make things a little easier.  We chose not to because we recognize we are here to serve and that should take precedence on an easier budget.  We also know that God will be indebted to no one.   We trust that God will look after us just like He has too many times to count in the past.  I am very impressed that some of the wealthy in the world have used their wealth to serve others through philanthropy, or simply to build small communities for the homeless like the billionaire in New Brunswick who has gone above and beyond just building shelters and has created a holistic community.  Even if the person is not a Jesus follower, they don’t know it but they are doing what God is asking from all of us.


Jesus has given us the greatest example of leadership.  Leadership is Serving!!


2 A second thought of the day is this: in your time of need, call out to God, whatever the need is.  David’s Psalms is kind of like him writing a daily diary. I heard someone mention it last week.  It’s unlikely David said to the musicians, “I just wrote this song.”  It’s more likely the result of raw feelings that David is feeling at the time and he just happened to be poetic.  For example: “Do not drag me away with the wicked and with those who work iniquity!”


God wants us to call out to Him just as David says in verse 1 of today’s reading:  “To you, O LORD, I call.”  From Isaiah 25:1 “O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago with perfect faithfulness.”   Cry out to God because He has a plan and He will be faithful to you.  


May your day be blessed

Steve


Genesis 42 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2042&version=NASB1995

Psalm 28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2028&version=NASB1995

Isaiah 25 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2025&version=NASB1995

Matthew 20:17 - End of 20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2020%3A17-34&version=NASB1995


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