Good Morning Friends,
Sometimes we sense the presence of God and sometimes we do not. Today we explore the possibility that we would sense God more if we risked more in seeking a just mercy. So, inspired by today’s scripture we ask, Do We Play It Safe?
Scripture: When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.” And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. Moreover, all the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine became severe throughout the world. Thus the sons of Israel were among the other people who came to buy grain, for the famine had reached the land of Canaan. Now Joseph was governor over the land; it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.
When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” And he put them all together in prison for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they agreed to do so.
They said to one another, “Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother; we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this anguish has come upon us.” Then Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” They did not know that Joseph understood them, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. He turned away from them and wept; then he returned and spoke to them. And he picked out Simeon and had him bound before their eyes.
Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a (NRSV)
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
Matthew 10:1-7 (NRSV)
Message: Today we follow up on the theme of sowing and reaping against the backdrop of a worldwide famine. Joseph had interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh in such a way to prepare them for lack of food others were experiencing. When his brothers come to Egypt to get grain the drama is set and the story unfolds. Here we see that the relationship between risk and reward takes both conscious awareness of a process and commitment and proper implementation before a harvest is realized and the famine averted. It is here it becomes clearer that God is full and complete and perfect but that is not to say that it did not cost the Father to send His Son for our salvation. Exacting a just mercy is not so easy and may well bring tears to our eyes. It was in a way a great risk for God as for Joseph and his brothers for the simple reason that people have a choice. It was a great pain to die on the cross. It was a great pain for Joseph to suffer the rejection of his brothers. So, the story resonates in both stories that God loved us enough not to play it safe but instead broke ground into new territory for the Kingdom of God to thrive and produce a harvest in each of us of reconciliation. So, we too we should be sowing the seeds of our faith. Friends, risking is part of the plan, but the things of the world are easy and shining and they attract our attention and cause us to forget that there are more worthwhile ways to spend our time related to Kingdom work. We are to get out of our comfort zone, but we are to do so with wisdom. And here hopefully we discover that there is something powerful about being in the presence of someone and sharing an honest, open moment of emotion beyond pleasantries. It breaks open new territory and the opportunity for clearer vision when we share love in new ways to new people. Risking in love breaks new ground and plants seeds that change lives.
And So, taking the step to reconcile relationships requires some emotional effort. It is not easy to break new ground and the experience can often be a bit risky. Having faith in these situations is key. We are to believe that love will prevail, and that God’s grace can trump everything the world might put in our path of success. Friends, the risk is worth it if we prepare for God to use the difficult situations of life for a good outcome.
Pray we realize that God loves us so much, to the point of engaging in activities that are painful and difficult and even deep rooted and potentially profoundly hazardous. Pray we too are willing to risk because we realize what is really at stake. Pray we believe the Kingdom can still be near in the radical and surprising love of those who believe enough to be honest. Pray we are willing to be in the presence of real emotion. Pray we are willing to explore and break new ground even if it feels uncomfortable. Pray we realize that sharing mercy brings a closeness to God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 