August 27th, 2022
God is With Us
Jeremy Smith
God has called all believers to follow Him. One of the easiest, and likely most overlooked ways is to serve one another. Unfortunately, we start to question why do I need to greet someone, join the worship team, or teach a Growth Community? I know from my own experience that it is easy to write off or view it as something someone else is already doing. This was especially the case when my family came to The River.
We had felt almost like we were run off or pushed out of our previous church. There were some definite wounds that were prevalent, and some issues we needed to work through. So, when we started to attend the church, it was like slow baby steps to getting involved and connected. It was in a small Growth Community that really introduced this idea to me.
In Genesis chapter 37, we get introduced to Joseph. His father favored him, which in turn made his brothers resent him, and sell him to some Midianites. Joseph was sold a couple of times and eventually ended up with Potiphar. Genesis 39:2 says, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man.” He gains some power and authority within Potiphar’s house, but resists the advances from Potiphar’s wife and is thrown in jail. Again in Genesis 39:21, we read, “The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Joseph spends some time in prison and over a few years interprets a couple of dreams for the pharaoh. That leads to the pharaoh eventually freeing Joseph and Joseph becoming the governor of the land during a famine. This is when we read his brothers come looking for some food. It would have been really easy for Joseph to tell them off, or too bad, but instead, he ends up treating them just like all the others. Ultimately it leads to a reunion with his family.
The story has always stood out to me. It is a reminder to give everything you have in whatever you are doing. It gives reassurance that even when we cannot see it God is still working and in control, also a reminder that God is God and we are not. God may be using something in your life to help give you a different perspective or outlook on a situation so that down the line you can be a light to someone else. God wants us in fellowship with others. Wherever that may be for you, remember that similarly how God was with Joseph to make him successful, He will be with us.
Jeremy Smith
God has called all believers to follow Him. One of the easiest, and likely most overlooked ways is to serve one another. Unfortunately, we start to question why do I need to greet someone, join the worship team, or teach a Growth Community? I know from my own experience that it is easy to write off or view it as something someone else is already doing. This was especially the case when my family came to The River.
We had felt almost like we were run off or pushed out of our previous church. There were some definite wounds that were prevalent, and some issues we needed to work through. So, when we started to attend the church, it was like slow baby steps to getting involved and connected. It was in a small Growth Community that really introduced this idea to me.
In Genesis chapter 37, we get introduced to Joseph. His father favored him, which in turn made his brothers resent him, and sell him to some Midianites. Joseph was sold a couple of times and eventually ended up with Potiphar. Genesis 39:2 says, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man.” He gains some power and authority within Potiphar’s house, but resists the advances from Potiphar’s wife and is thrown in jail. Again in Genesis 39:21, we read, “The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Joseph spends some time in prison and over a few years interprets a couple of dreams for the pharaoh. That leads to the pharaoh eventually freeing Joseph and Joseph becoming the governor of the land during a famine. This is when we read his brothers come looking for some food. It would have been really easy for Joseph to tell them off, or too bad, but instead, he ends up treating them just like all the others. Ultimately it leads to a reunion with his family.
The story has always stood out to me. It is a reminder to give everything you have in whatever you are doing. It gives reassurance that even when we cannot see it God is still working and in control, also a reminder that God is God and we are not. God may be using something in your life to help give you a different perspective or outlook on a situation so that down the line you can be a light to someone else. God wants us in fellowship with others. Wherever that may be for you, remember that similarly how God was with Joseph to make him successful, He will be with us.
Posted in Be The Church
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Reach • Devotion 1Reach • Devotion 2Reach • Devotion 3Reach • Devotion 4Reach • Devotion 5Reach • Devotion 6Gather • Devotion 1Gather • Devotion 2Gather • Devotion 3Gather • Devotion 4Gather • Devotion 5Gather • Devotion 6Grow • Devotion 1Grow • Devotion 2Grow • Devotion 3Grow • Devotion 4Grow • Devotion 5Grow • Devotion 6Giving • Devotion 1Giving • Devotion 2Giving • Devotion 3Giving • Devotion 4Giving • Devotion 5Giving • Devotion 6Galatians 1
2022
August
Proverbs 24Proverbs 1Proverbs 25Proverbs 26Proverbs 27Proverbs 28Proverbs 29Proverbs 30Proverbs 31Proverbs 2Proverbs 23Proverbs 3Proverbs 4Proverbs 5Proverbs 6Proverbs 7Proverbs 8Proverbs 9Proverbs 10Join the Team • Devotion 1Join the Team • Devotion 2Join the Team • Devotion 3Join the Team • Devotion 4Join the Team • Devotion 5Join the Team • Devotion 6Join the Team • Devotion 7Audience of One • Devotion 1Audience of One • Devotion 2Audience of One • Devotion 3Audience of One • Devotion 4
September
Audience of One • Devotion 5Audience of One • Devotion 6Audience of One • Devotion 7Reach • Devotion 1Reach • Devotion 2Reach • Devotion 3Reach • Devotion 4Reach • Devotion 5Reach • Devotion 6Gather • Devotion 1Gather • Devotion 2Gather • Devotion 3Gather • Devotion 4Gather • Devotion 5Gather • Devotion 6Grow • Devotion 1Grow • Devotion 2Grow • Devotion 3Grow • Devotion 4Grow • Devotion 5Grow • Devotion 6Back to Reach • Devotion 1Back to Reach • Devotion 2Back to Reach • Devotion 3Back to Reach • Devotion 4Back to Reach • Devotion 5
October
Back to Reach • Devotion 6Salt • Devotion 1Salt • Devotion 2Salt • Devotion 3Salt • Devotion 4Salt • Devotion 5Salt • Devotion 6Light • Devotion 1Light • Devotion 2Light • Devotion 3Light • Devotion 4Light • Devotion 5Light • Devotion 6Law • Devotion 1Law • Devotion 2Law • Devotion 3Law • Devotion 4Lae • Devotion 5Law • Devotion 6
Categories
Tags
no tags