Monday - Shepherds - John 10:11-16
Being a shepherd, even in biblical times, to some is a job where for only a short time do they have responsibility or a strong connection with the sheep. But for those who are called to be shepherds, it is a lifestyle that brings out a compassion for the sheep and the desire to have a closer relationship with each sheep, ewe, and lamb. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The sons of Israel were not the caring, compassionate shepherd, but were hirelings, who were tending sheep because their father told them too. Jesus set the example for what a true shepherd is all about in the Gospel of John, chapter 10.
Tuesday - Human Jealousy - Luke 15:28
In our scripture from Sunday in the story of Joseph, the brothers became very jealous of the way their father favored Joseph above the rest of them. That jealousy became the root through which Satan entered the brothers hearts and caused them to hate Joseph to the point of wanting to kill him.. .sell him as a slave to the merchants. Jesus told a story of a father and two brothers where neither brother was truly favored, but the father came to a point one day of celebrating the return of the younger, from being lost. The older brother became jealous to the point that he could not celebrate.
Wednesday - Dreams - Acts 10: 9-20
Have you ever noticed that in most situations that when someone is said to have had a dream there was always a need for an interpreter to share the meaning of the dream. In the story of Joseph the dreams of Joseph, the baker, the cupbearer, and Pharaoh, God provided an interpreter in the person of Joseph. Yet in the scriptures those who had visions needed no so much an interpretation as they needed confirmation through what was about to happen. Peter when up on the rooftop had a vision which told him that God shows no favoritism and what He gives is all clean (good). The men that came to the gate did not interpret the vision but confirmed what God had to share.
Thursday - Sheaves - Deuteronomy 24:19
Sheaves of grain are the blessing of the Lord revealed in the harvest of what God has allowed to grow. To say that you harvested sheaves of grain from just planting seeds (30, 60 or 100 fold), is to recognize that God's will is being done. Though the brothers could not see it because of the jealousy they had within their hearts, the dream of their sheaves bowing down to those of Joseph, could have been recognized as God giving a special blessing that was going to be shared by all. In the law given by God on how to harvest the blessing of God, sheaves of grain; God said if a sheaf is left behind leave it for the less fortunate of the community with compassion. Let what has been a blessing to you be a blessing to all.
Friday - Supremacy - Genesis 49:8
In the closing moments of Jacob's life, He gave blessings to his sons. If we read this section of scripture completely we see that it is not Joseph or Joseph's sons who end up being the blessed one of supremacy. The tables have turned, for God used Joseph for a certain time and Jacob comes to pronounce that Judah will be the greater tribe later on as God develops the nation of Israel in the centuries ahead. It will be out of Judah that the Savior of the world will come and supremacy will be His for Jesus was all God and all man.. .blessed by the Father in Heaven.
Saturday - Subjection - Joshua 10:16-25
It is found in scripture that God has given blessing after blessing to those who are obedient to Him and have placed those who at times may have seemed more powerful under subjection to the "children of God." Joseph was raised up and his brothers were in subjection to him. Joshua and his army was raised up to defeat the five kings and their armies to the point that they were all found under the subjection of God's people. Even though there may be battles where the odds against believers in God may seem overwhelming, the Word of God gives to us the truth that when it is all over with, the enemy will be in subjection to those who follow the Almighty God and His Christ. So hang in there.
Being a shepherd, even in biblical times, to some is a job where for only a short time do they have responsibility or a strong connection with the sheep. But for those who are called to be shepherds, it is a lifestyle that brings out a compassion for the sheep and the desire to have a closer relationship with each sheep, ewe, and lamb. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The sons of Israel were not the caring, compassionate shepherd, but were hirelings, who were tending sheep because their father told them too. Jesus set the example for what a true shepherd is all about in the Gospel of John, chapter 10.
Tuesday - Human Jealousy - Luke 15:28
In our scripture from Sunday in the story of Joseph, the brothers became very jealous of the way their father favored Joseph above the rest of them. That jealousy became the root through which Satan entered the brothers hearts and caused them to hate Joseph to the point of wanting to kill him.. .sell him as a slave to the merchants. Jesus told a story of a father and two brothers where neither brother was truly favored, but the father came to a point one day of celebrating the return of the younger, from being lost. The older brother became jealous to the point that he could not celebrate.
Wednesday - Dreams - Acts 10: 9-20
Have you ever noticed that in most situations that when someone is said to have had a dream there was always a need for an interpreter to share the meaning of the dream. In the story of Joseph the dreams of Joseph, the baker, the cupbearer, and Pharaoh, God provided an interpreter in the person of Joseph. Yet in the scriptures those who had visions needed no so much an interpretation as they needed confirmation through what was about to happen. Peter when up on the rooftop had a vision which told him that God shows no favoritism and what He gives is all clean (good). The men that came to the gate did not interpret the vision but confirmed what God had to share.
Thursday - Sheaves - Deuteronomy 24:19
Sheaves of grain are the blessing of the Lord revealed in the harvest of what God has allowed to grow. To say that you harvested sheaves of grain from just planting seeds (30, 60 or 100 fold), is to recognize that God's will is being done. Though the brothers could not see it because of the jealousy they had within their hearts, the dream of their sheaves bowing down to those of Joseph, could have been recognized as God giving a special blessing that was going to be shared by all. In the law given by God on how to harvest the blessing of God, sheaves of grain; God said if a sheaf is left behind leave it for the less fortunate of the community with compassion. Let what has been a blessing to you be a blessing to all.
Friday - Supremacy - Genesis 49:8
In the closing moments of Jacob's life, He gave blessings to his sons. If we read this section of scripture completely we see that it is not Joseph or Joseph's sons who end up being the blessed one of supremacy. The tables have turned, for God used Joseph for a certain time and Jacob comes to pronounce that Judah will be the greater tribe later on as God develops the nation of Israel in the centuries ahead. It will be out of Judah that the Savior of the world will come and supremacy will be His for Jesus was all God and all man.. .blessed by the Father in Heaven.
Saturday - Subjection - Joshua 10:16-25
It is found in scripture that God has given blessing after blessing to those who are obedient to Him and have placed those who at times may have seemed more powerful under subjection to the "children of God." Joseph was raised up and his brothers were in subjection to him. Joshua and his army was raised up to defeat the five kings and their armies to the point that they were all found under the subjection of God's people. Even though there may be battles where the odds against believers in God may seem overwhelming, the Word of God gives to us the truth that when it is all over with, the enemy will be in subjection to those who follow the Almighty God and His Christ. So hang in there.