Sometimes a hard place is the right place for a person to meet God and become a useful instrument in the hand of the Master. This was true for Charles Colson, a brilliant political strategies and special counsel to President Richard Nixon in the 1970’s. Though he was never actually prosecuted for any crimes related to Watergate, he did plead guilty and was incarcerated for obstructing justice and spent time in prison.
It was this painful season that lead Colson to seek the face of God and surrender his heart to Jesus Christ. In that low point God began to transform Colson into new man. Since then he has led an amazing ministry called Prison Fellowship, founded by Wilberforce Forum, and impacted countless lives through his speaking, writing, and dynamic leadership.
Had Charles Colson never “gotten caught” and endured pain and struggle, he might never have encountered Jesus. He could testify that the hardest, darkest times are sometimes God’s best times to capture our hearts and shape our lives.
Charles Colson could say, “If I had not been caught and ended up in prison, I would never have become the man I am today.” Joseph could say, “If my brothers had not turned on me, if Potiphar’s wife had not falsely accused me, I would have never ended up meeting Pharaoh’s servants in prison. I might have never become the king’s right-hand man.”
Think about a time in your life that would be different if you had never faced a specific time of challenge and struggle. Ponder how life would be different.
Romans 8:28 ~ “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, pages 25 and 29.
1. As a teen, Joseph had two dreams that indicated he would one day rule over his brothers. List Joseph's character qualities that demonstrate why he was God's choice for a leader. Which of these character qualities are important in a leader today?
2. Even though Joseph experienced betrayal, he went on to enjoy a full and purposeful life in Egypt. What factors or spiritual understandings do you think made this possible? How was it possible for Joseph to forgive his brothers?
3. Why do you think Joseph did not reveal his true identity to his brothers at first? What was he waiting for?
I just love the story of Joseph. It brings tears to my eyes because it is such an amazing story of forgiveness and being welcomed into the arms of the one who forgives. This is a story of how God forgives even me and welcomes me into His loving arms.
In James 1:2-4 we read, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Joseph's story is an example of this scripture. For 22 years he faced trials after being sold by his brothers into slavery. Through it all he never lost faith in God.
Our lives are like a jigsaw puzzle. We have our ups and downs, as Joseph did. We do not know from our birth and throughout our life what our picture will look like, but God does. He sees the picture the day we are created in our mother's wombs. So it was with Joseph, as The Story points out, he had to be sold into slavery and go through the good and bad days to complete the story that God had planned for His people.
Joseph's story teaches me that even in tough times that God is with me, testing my faith in Him, waiting to see how I handle the testing, and how I will lean on Him to show me the way. Sometimes I truly wish He would just KNOW that I love Him and have so much faith in Him and wouldn't have to keep putting trials in my path! But I know I have a long way to go, and with each trial I am truly growing in not only my faith in God but learning to even more lean on Him. Proverbs 3:5&6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." What an example Joseph is to us.
One leadership characteristic I see in Joseph is that he trusted God to lead him. Another leadership trait I see as being important to leaders today is integrity. Joseph's example of denying the temptation of a leader's wife demonstrates his true integrity and focus on what is right. I wish more leaders today would learn the value of integrity.
I strongly believe that God wants us to learn how to have faith in Him. Joseph's story of betrayal, temptation, and time spent in prison all demonstrate how faithful he was to God in knowing that God had a plan for his life. I am also strongly encouraged by Joseph's example of forgiveness, especially the ability to forgive his brothers who intentionally sold him into slavery. It seems that through Joseph's forgiveness, his brother may have experienced the love of God.
At first, when I read about Joseph not readily revealing himself to his brother, I kind of thought it might be a cruel joke...kind of a way of getting back at his brothers for their wrongdoing. But the more I thought about Joseph holding back the truth with his brothers, the more I started to think that we needed to see Joseph's human side...the side of pain and suffering. I think by holding back Joseph's true identity, we really do see an example of love and forgiveness.
I also like your references to the New Testament and to Proverbs...it shows that God's greater plan really does span time and we truly need to be patient and trust in God.
I agree with you; my first thoughts about Joseph holding back on his brothers and even setting them up for their journey back home with the bag of money in their packs, then his goblet in Benjamin's pack was his humanness and wanting to get even for what they had done to him. But I have come to understand that because of Joseph's faith in God, I believe this was God leading him and teaching not only Joseph but his brothers the lesson of forgiveness and trusting in God above all else.
Point to Ponder…
ReplyDeleteSometimes a hard place is the right place for a person to meet God and become a useful instrument in the hand of the Master. This was true for Charles Colson, a brilliant political strategies and special counsel to President Richard Nixon in the 1970’s. Though he was never actually prosecuted for any crimes related to Watergate, he did plead guilty and was incarcerated for obstructing justice and spent time in prison.
It was this painful season that lead Colson to seek the face of God and surrender his heart to Jesus Christ. In that low point God began to transform Colson into new man. Since then he has led an amazing ministry called Prison Fellowship, founded by Wilberforce Forum, and impacted countless lives through his speaking, writing, and dynamic leadership.
Had Charles Colson never “gotten caught” and endured pain and struggle, he might never have encountered Jesus. He could testify that the hardest, darkest times are sometimes God’s best times to capture our hearts and shape our lives.
Charles Colson could say, “If I had not been caught and ended up in prison, I would never have become the man I am today.” Joseph could say, “If my brothers had not turned on me, if Potiphar’s wife had not falsely accused me, I would have never ended up meeting Pharaoh’s servants in prison. I might have never become the king’s right-hand man.”
Think about a time in your life that would be different if you had never faced a specific time of challenge and struggle. Ponder how life would be different.
Romans 8:28 ~ “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, pages 25 and 29.
Questions to consider...
ReplyDelete1. As a teen, Joseph had two dreams that indicated he would one day rule over his brothers. List Joseph's character qualities that demonstrate why he was God's choice for a leader. Which of these character qualities are important in a leader today?
2. Even though Joseph experienced betrayal, he went on to enjoy a full and purposeful life in Egypt. What factors or spiritual understandings do you think made this possible? How was it possible for Joseph to forgive his brothers?
3. Why do you think Joseph did not reveal his true identity to his brothers at first? What was he waiting for?
I just love the story of Joseph. It brings tears to my eyes because it is such an amazing story of forgiveness and being welcomed into the arms of the one who forgives. This is a story of how God forgives even me and welcomes me into His loving arms.
ReplyDeleteIn James 1:2-4 we read, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Joseph's story is an example of this scripture. For 22 years he faced trials after being sold by his brothers into slavery. Through it all he never lost faith in God.
Our lives are like a jigsaw puzzle. We have our ups and downs, as Joseph did. We do not know from our birth and throughout our life what our picture will look like, but God does. He sees the picture the day we are created in our mother's wombs. So it was with Joseph, as The Story points out, he had to be sold into slavery and go through the good and bad days to complete the story that God had planned for His people.
Joseph's story teaches me that even in tough times that God is with me, testing my faith in Him, waiting to see how I handle the testing, and how I will lean on Him to show me the way. Sometimes I truly wish He would just KNOW that I love Him and have so much faith in Him and wouldn't have to keep putting trials in my path! But I know I have a long way to go, and with each trial I am truly growing in not only my faith in God but learning to even more lean on Him. Proverbs 3:5&6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." What an example Joseph is to us.
One leadership characteristic I see in Joseph is that he trusted God to lead him. Another leadership trait I see as being important to leaders today is integrity. Joseph's example of denying the temptation of a leader's wife demonstrates his true integrity and focus on what is right. I wish more leaders today would learn the value of integrity.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that God wants us to learn how to have faith in Him. Joseph's story of betrayal, temptation, and time spent in prison all demonstrate how faithful he was to God in knowing that God had a plan for his life. I am also strongly encouraged by Joseph's example of forgiveness, especially the ability to forgive his brothers who intentionally sold him into slavery. It seems that through Joseph's forgiveness, his brother may have experienced the love of God.
At first, when I read about Joseph not readily revealing himself to his brother, I kind of thought it might be a cruel joke...kind of a way of getting back at his brothers for their wrongdoing. But the more I thought about Joseph holding back the truth with his brothers, the more I started to think that we needed to see Joseph's human side...the side of pain and suffering. I think by holding back Joseph's true identity, we really do see an example of love and forgiveness.
I also like your references to the New Testament and to Proverbs...it shows that God's greater plan really does span time and we truly need to be patient and trust in God.
I agree with you; my first thoughts about Joseph holding back on his brothers and even setting them up for their journey back home with the bag of money in their packs, then his goblet in Benjamin's pack was his humanness and wanting to get even for what they had done to him. But I have come to understand that because of Joseph's faith in God, I believe this was God leading him and teaching not only Joseph but his brothers the lesson of forgiveness and trusting in God above all else.
Delete