The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Tuesday
January 29, 2008
Then Jacob said, "It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I will go and see
him before I die."…
Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to
meet his father. As soon as Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept on
his shoulder for a long time. Then Jacob said to Joseph, "Now let me die, for I
have seen you with my own eyes and know you are still alive."…
Then Jacob
said to Joseph, "I never thought I would see you again, but now God has let me
see your children, too."
Genesis 45:28; 46:29-30; 48:11
Well, Hallelujah! Mr. Joseph put his brothers, the ones who put him in a well, pulled him out and sent him off, through a terrible time of testing. Now, he didn't do it to get back at them for what they had done to him, he did it to make a point. He was simply showing them God's wonderful way of working in their lives.
Jacob and Joseph were not afraid of someone seeing them get emotional. After many, many years of separation they were finally embracing and they didn't care if the whole world saw it. How many of us are like that?
Remember me sharing about running into the girl who sang the song from Brook Hills? Well, I didn't share that the moment she told me that she was the one who sang the song, I fell on my knees and kissed her feet. I mean to tell you it was a spontaneous display of joy. That song ministered to me in so many ways and I was simply expressing my thanks to God by showering my love on her, and I didn't care who saw. In my mind it was only God, her, and me there in that moment.
God gave us our emotional thermometers. It was never in His plan for us to remain in neutral emotionally. A lady I once attended church with at the River of Life is something else; her name is Tina Hamilton. God delivered Tina in so many ways that it isn't unusual for her to break into a run after singing for Him. She doesn't care who sees, He just sets her so free that she has to run.
When we are in worship, I mean real worship, of our Lord, it will not be unusual to cry, laugh, or even shout. He wants to move us emotionally. I am amazed at how many ways He is moving me. I think Proverbs 16:1-9 really expresses what happened to Joseph. "We can gather our thoughts, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed. The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for punishment. The Lord despises pride; be assured that the proud will be punished. Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the Lord. When the ways of people please the Lord, he makes even their enemies live at peace with them. It is better to be poor and godly than rich and dishonest. We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps."
Father, I am so thankful that You direct my steps. I thank You for forgiving me for all the times I failed. Thank You for mercy that covers my sin. Set us free to worship You in Spirit and Truth even emotionally! Lord, touch those who have died emotionally and free them to worship you again!
