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Case Studies of God at Work


Week 9


In God's Care

Aug 31-Sept 6, 2024


FAMILY THEME:

GOD PROVIDES



Case Studies of God at Work

Origin stories are always fascinating. Nothing connects you to a character, country, or company like knowing the circumstances that surrounded the beginnings of its journey to greatness. From superheroes to presidents, from important inventions to world powers, every story begins somewhere, and every story includes unique challenges and triumphs along the way.

Such stories can also teach us a great deal about ourselves, if we let them. They often show us that greatness comes from small beginnings and that grand journeys begin in unexpected ways.

Over the next five weeks, we will explore some important chapters of the origin story of God’s chosen people. We will see God’s grace in choosing Jacob and working through less-than-ideal circumstances to bring God's plans to fruition. We will see how God provided and kept promises time and time again, sometimes in unexpected ways. But perhaps most importantly, we will discover what we can learn today about our own personal relationship with God thousands of years later.

Remember, these weekday devotions are designed to help you build upon, apply, and respond to Sabbath's study. The devotions are meant to follow the Sabbath lesson rather than precede it. In this way, the focus is on integrating God's truth, your faith, and your daily life rather than merely attending a Sabbath school class.


Joseph Makes Himself Known

1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3Joseph 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. 4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And 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. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8“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. 9Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ 12“You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” 14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. 16When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ 19“You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ” 21So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” 25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”



SUNDAY

Joseph Makes Himself Known

1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3Joseph 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. 4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And 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. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8“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. 9Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ 12“You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” 14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. 16When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ 19“You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ” 21So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” 25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Joseph used his power and position as an opportunity to serve and to provide for his family despite how he’d been treated.

1. God Provides Deliverance


Joseph Makes Himself Known

1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3Joseph 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. 4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And 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. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.



Joseph had forgiven his brothers and sought only to provide for them and the rest of his family.

• How did Joseph view the situation surrounding the way his brothers had treated him (verses 5, 7)?

• Can you think of any examples in your own life where similar issues are being processed (or perhaps could/should be)?


2. God Provides Sustenance


8“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. 9Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ 12“You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

God worked through the difficulties Joseph experienced in order to provide for the needs of people in a time of famine.

• What did Joseph recognize about his position (verse 9)?

• When have you seen God provide through unexpected means in the midst of difficult circumstances?



3. God Provides Restoration


14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. 16When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ 19“You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ” 21So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” 25So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

God was at work, providing a way for Joseph’s family to be reconciled and restored.

• What did the news that Joseph was alive do for his father (verse 27)?

• How has God worked in redeeming ways, even in the midst of challenging situations, in your own life or the lives of someone you know?



MONDAY

Prosperity After Turning to the Lord

1When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. 4Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. 5He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. 6The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. 7The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. 8You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. 9Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, 10if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.



Today's passage gives us a glimpse into God's heart at this unique moment in the history of God's people. As God speaks to Israel before they enter into the Promised Land, God is very aware that these same people that had just been redeemed and sustained were not going to remain perfectly faithful. God did not ordain that it had to be that way, but God knew the children of Israel well enough to be prepared for the road ahead. As with Peter, who assured Jesus that he would be faithful to the end, God anticipated their failures and made provision for their restoration. As you read through these verses, notice the heart of God and how God feels about us. In the previous chapter, God had spelled out for them what the consequences of unfaithfulness would be, which were not punishments but rather the results of living apart from God. But more than that, in this chapter, God reminds them that when these bad things do happen to them, they should remember God's promise. The Lord promised to restore Israel when they returned to God. As you listen to this expression of hope and grace, what speaks to you the most powerfully?


Thought for the Day:

God offers us the very thing we need at any moment: restored relationships.


TUESDAY

Of David.

1Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. 12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; 13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. 14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. 15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; 17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. 18The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. 19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. 20But the wicked will perish: Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke. 21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; 22those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed. 23The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; 24though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. 25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. 27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. 28For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. 29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. 30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. 31The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. 32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; 33but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial. 34Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. 35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, 36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. 37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. 38But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked. 39The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Worry and envy. Two powerful forces in life that are addressed in the first verse of today's psalm. The musical poetry both reminds us that these are transient and turns our attention to what is enduring—trust and delight in who God is. Trusting and doing good is mentioned as well. Unfortunately, because of self-righteous attitudes and the way some rely on "good works" to qualify for salvation, we sometimes don't appreciate the admonition to "do good" for what it is—an invitation to enter into what is most meaningful and enriching in life. It is important to embrace wanting to be good. We know we are flawed and fall short, but doing good is still a good thing! As you read on through the psalm you will notice rich expressions of what trusting in God looks like, contrasted with what it looks like to be motivated by envy and fear. While these are descriptive examples, not statements of absolutes (sometimes children of the righteous do go hungry), they help us see the contrast of where different paths ultimately lead. As you read through, take special note of those verses that speak powerfully to you, and take them with you today.


Thought for the Day

The Lord invites us to take refuge in God.


WEDNESDAY

Isaiah 61:1-7

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 4They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 5Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 6And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 7Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

Luke 4:16-30

16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 23Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ” 24“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” 28All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

In the New Testament, the temple was the place for priests to make sacrificial offerings and the synagogue was the place for people to learn and discuss the Scriptures. In the synagogue, worship revolved around the teaching and reading of the Word. When Jesus went to the synagogue in Luke 4, He read from Isaiah 61. He followed up the reading of the Word with a simple yet profound statement: today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing (verse 21). In Luke's Gospel, this is the manifesto for Jesus' ministry. Compare the verses from Luke with those from Isaiah. Notice what Jesus emphasizes from Isaiah and the part He did not read (61:2). What do you think might be significant about that? As you compare the passage Jesus quoted with what Luke describes, what do you notice? Why do you suppose that the people responded as they did when Jesus read the passage? Even though Luke does not record Jesus reading verse 5 from Isaiah 61, what Jesus said after the reading certainly implied it! As you reflect on these passages, what speaks to you?


Thought for the Day

God provides deliverance and restoration through Jesus for everyone.


THURSDAY

Treasures in Heaven

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says that our first priority should be to seek first God's kingdom and God's righteousness, and everything else will flow out of that primary commitment. But putting God's concerns first isn’t an event that happens once a week when Christians gather to worship; it’s an everyday priority that we are continually referencing as the navigation points on our journey through life. But what Jesus also makes clear in places like John 14:6 is that not only is Jesus the truth, but He is also the way and the life. He shows us not only what is true, but also how we go about things (the way) and how to live as a result (the life). The rest of today's passage focuses on what the "way" and the "life" look like. It is a way that is not driven by anxiety or worry because we acknowledge whose we are. We know what is worth pouring our energy into and what to avoid. What kinds of things hinder your ability to set worry and anxiety aside, and rest in the grace and assurance of God? What do you sense God inviting you to consider today?


Thought for the Day

The Lord will sustain those who seek His kingdom first.


FRIDAY

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Through the grace of God, we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ. An ambassador is someone who formally represents someone else. That’s exactly what verse 20 means when Paul said that God appeals to others through us. That means our words and actions should align with the character of Christ since we represent Jesus to the world. God reconciled us through Jesus and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. When we embrace what it means to be reconciled to God, then we discover what Paul proclaims in verse 14, "For Christ's love compels us." In verses 16 and following, we are reminded that we see things from a new perspective, so much so that we are a new creation! This rich imagery gives us yet another dimension of what it means when we embrace the grace and love of God revealed in Christ, and then allow that to fill our lives and overflow into the lives of others. To what extent are you living out of the overflow today? In what ways do you experience what it means to be filled to the point of overflowing? How might you more intentionally seek out those ways in which you are filled to overflowing?


Thought for the Day

We are reconciled to God in order that others might be reconciled to God and to each other, as well.


IN GOD'S CARE

THIS WEEK’S GOAL:

To appreciate God's ability to provide for healing and restoration in challenging situations.

It is comforting to know that no matter what happens, God is capable of responding in creative and redemptive ways. No matter what the circumstances of our lives look like right now, God is infinitely resourceful when it comes to providing opportunities for restoration. Joseph certainly came to understand this. And while you may not be a slave sold by your family, wrongfully imprisoned, or the ruler of a nation, God can handle the situation, and will not abandon you. The devotions this week will provide us with opportunities to continue to consider what it means for us to live in that realization.



PAST WEEKS HERE


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