Is your Focus Right?
Gen 43:25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.
As the brothers got ready to meet with Joseph, we read that they made ready their presents. It is a good tradition to go before men of honor with gifts. Visitors do not normally approach Kings empty handed. Our offerings to the King of kings should reflect the great honor we accord to our God. But in this story, there is a different dimension in that they did not know Joseph was their brother. This was a very material fact that made them focus on how to win the acceptance and favor of Joseph, who was already set to favor them. Ignorance affects our attitude.
There are still many today trying to please God with things, performances and service. Many have focused on what money can buy and have pledged to do impressive things for the Lord. This is all commendable, but is not the best we can be for God. God is not so impressed with our gifts as He is excited about us. We should focus on our lives, and the lives of others to make them sanctuaries that please the most high to dwell in. If they knew this was their brother and that he had forgiven them, they would have prepared their hearts to meet him, to be pleasing to him who they had ill-treated.
We tend to focus on the material but God is focused on us. What impresses men tends to be of silver and gold … what pleases God is faith that He is our father who sent His son, our Lord Jesus Christ as our senior brother … the second Adam to die and be raised that we may be ever saved. Without this faith, it is impossible to please God. Our faith therefore looks up to Christ, the Lamb of Calvary.
Faith is the most attacked and underestimated of virtues. Because all power belongs to God and Satan has no power to defeat us, he tricks and discourages us with wiles to erode faith. When we have no faith, we will soon search for other ways to please God only to embark on futile journeys. We then become discouraged and become vulnerable to Satan’s deceptions. Lord increase our faith. Faith comes by hearing – therefore ensure you are constantly exposed to expository teachings of God’s word. The measure of your faith is linked to the word you regularly receive.
Song.
My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day
be wholly thine!
May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire!
As thou hast died for me,
O may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire!
Prayer: Holy Spirit, Help me to prepare my heart to be pure and faithful always pleasing to my Savior. Amen
The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa
