The view from below
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Genesis 41, 42; Psalms 23, 24
Genesis 41:14 (NIV)
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV)
3 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Luke 24:45 (NIV)
45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures.
Good morning!
Joseph spent a lot of time looking up. When his angry brothers threw him into the dry well, Joseph kept his eye on the light above while pleading and begging for help. Long after his brothers abandoned him, Joseph continued to look up, crying out to the Father. Looking up became a way of life that led Joseph through the days and years ahead.
It would have been tempting to sit down in the dark and have a pity party. After all, what had he done wrong? Joseph reported the dreams that God gave him, and his brothers hated him for it. Joseph demonstrated faithfulness to his master Potiphar, only to be wrongly accused and cast into prison for a crime he did not commit. He remained in prison for two years, with an uncanny ability to understand God’s Word and interpret His message to others. No matter where Joseph found himself, he continued to look up, seeking God’s face. He looked to the Father for his every need, and purposed to serve Him faithfully, despite his present situation. Joseph brought hope to the ones held in captivity. This man was different. Joseph knew the light, and that light became his life.
When I kneel before the Lord in prayer, I seek His face and look toward His light with hope. I wait at the foot of the cross. Looking up, I can see His love flowing down, covering all my sin and cleansing my heart. It is an amazing thing to behold the Father’s love. I cannot take my eyes off of Him.
The gift of understanding is a blessing from the Father above! Our Lord opened the minds of His disciples so they could understand His holy Word. As Jesus ascended into Heaven, His faithful brothers and sisters looked up, and watched Him rise in glory. We continue to look up toward the Heavens, awaiting Christ’s return. We wait with great hope, knowing He is coming back for you and for me. We have every reason to rejoice, despite the sad situations in which we live. War rages on. People die each day from disease, dehydration, and starvation. We must look up and let His light become our life. We can feed the starving, give water to the thirsty, and extend peace and forgiveness to a world ravaged by war. Our vision goes beyond what we see in the physical, to the eternal. Our hope moves far beyond the limitations of this life. We know there will be day when the darkness will be no more and His love will reign forever.
No matter where you find yourself today, come sit at the foot of the cross. Look up and see the light at the end of the tunnel. He is your only hope. He is life everlasting, the beginning and the end, always and forever. The view from below can be absolutely breathtaking, when we take time to look up to the Lord.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: eyes to see beyond your present circumstance. Look up to the Lord today. He will fill you with His light and you will live with hope, because He lives!
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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