Redemption by the church

This is my SOAP devotional for May 6th
This is the Saul that would become Paul and be the greatest apostle to the gentiles, spreading the story of Jesus around the world.

S - Acts 9:26-28
26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

O - Saul was a fierce persecutor of the new believers. As a Jew he had a severe passion against the "blasphemy" he believed they were spreading. As Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, the believers were hiding from him in fear. He had committed many wrongs but had been converted and baptized. Ananias had conquered his fear of Saul to be obedient to God and in this passage we see that Barnabas was also obedient, coming alongside Saul to be his advocate to the "church". In order for Saul to do God's work, he had to be accepted by the believers.

A - We will all make mistakes and sometimes it is so severe that trust is damaged. Those that have lost their way but return to the church need us to be their advocates, standing up bold in faith, to show fellow believers that the effort is genuine. Unfortunately we judge. But I am called, as a believer, to forgive as Jesus forgives...over and over. I cannot question what God will do with the redemption that is available. I must be a Barnabas to those seeking redemption by the church, for they have asked and they receive by God - why shouldn't they receive the same from me.

P - It is too easy God to take the position of "judge" when it comes to the wrong that we see. But you have not asked this of me...you call me to love. May you Lord soften my heart to be a Barnabas and an advocate, preaching redemption for those that confess and turn back to you. Oh that I would look past the wrongdoing and trust YOU as the supreme judge, allowing me the freedom to love and care for those that feel unworthy and need it most. Amen.

God ALWAYS uses the bad for good

I am again posting 2 devotionals this week because they go well together, so read the previous one I posted today from Feb. 8th first and then read this one.

My SOAP devotional from Feb. 12th

S - Genesis 45:4-8
4 Then 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! 5 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. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. [a]

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.

O - Joseph's brothers were tired of his bragging and being their father's favorite so they tried to be rid of him. They had ill intent but God took their jealousy and extreme lack of concern for his life and used it for THEIR good, and the good of future generations. If you read ahead, God had a big plan and turned evil into amazing goodness. The brothers did not deserve salvation and yet that is exactly what God did in eventually bringing them to Egypt during the famine. Joseph put his eyes on God, in spite of his family being against him. And he showed amazing forgiveness because he saw first hand God's plan laid out in front of him.

A - Isn't it just like God to give us a story that happened many, many years before Jesus as an example of what He does in our life even today. These brothers made terrible choices. We make terrible choices. They did not deserve salvation from the famine. We do not deserve salvation. And yet, God provided a way through Joseph, the victim of their evil choices. And for us, God has provided a way through Jesus.

It is easy really in hind sight to see how God has been at work in my life and to give him glory and praise for the bad situations He has turned to good. It is also easy to forgive people for their hurtful ways when we can see how God is using it for His purposes. I'm not sure if I'm a big enough person to always forgive as Joseph did (at least not right away), nor that I am always able to give God the glory in the midst of the struggle. I have been weak at times in holding onto my pride when others have hurt me. However, I have also seen that just as I wrote earlier this week about placing Jesus first in my life, regardless of what even my family/friends choose to do, I too can experience this same peace and forgiveness that Joseph had in his situation. I AM able to forgive and see God's plan BECAUSE I look for God at work in the middle of a struggle. Amazingly, I have always found that I can find peace in any situation when I trust God.

P - Give me God a faith like Joseph's, to see your provision even in the midst of challenge and crisis. Help me to trust that you are always at work in my best interest, preparing your great plan for my life to unfold. I am SOOO thankful that you are always taking the bad of this world and turning it into amazing goodness. How lucky we are to call you Lord of the universe!!! Amen.