Christ Church Daily Devotion June 23 2024

Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, who are shocked and terrified. He reassures them that he won't seek revenge because he sees everything that has happened from God's perspective. God has been at work, bringing good out of their sinful actions. We should trust in God and continue serving His mission, knowing that He can bring good out of any situation. There is an invitation to worship either in person or online, and to invite others to join. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for June 23rd, 2024. Today we will be reading from Genesis, chapter 45, verses 3 through 8. Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph. Is my father still living? But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, Come close to me. And when they had done so, he said, I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now, there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years, there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on Earth and save your lives by a great deliverance. So then it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. I can only imagine the depth of emotions in the room during this scene. Recent circumstances in this situation have been building to this moment. Suddenly, Joseph can stand it no longer. So he reveals himself to his brothers. They were shocked, speechless and afraid, but he reassures them that they are not in danger. He is not going to seek revenge for what they had done to him. The primary reason for that is he is looking at all that has happened from God's perspective. God has been at work in everything that has happened all along. As we see throughout the Bible, God took their sinful action and brought something so good out of it that it looked like God planned all of it. That is the power and glory of God. No matter what happens in our world and in our life, if we will keep trusting in God and continue to serve the mission of our Lord, God will bring something good out of it. Moreover, it will be so good that it will look like God even planned our sinful actions. But no, God doesn't cause us or anyone else to sin. But God can take anything that someone or some group does and bring good from it. What an awesome God we serve. Your personal worship option today. As always, you are invited to join us in person in worship today, ideally on campus. But if not there, join us online. If you are going to participate online, invite one or more people to join you. And if you are joining us in person, bring a carload or even one with you.