WE Shall Be Like.....

From Rev Dr Tom Nibbe
 
"...we shall bear the likeness..."

SCRIPTURE
"Come back to your senses as you ought."  (1 Corinthians 15:34)

"...delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart..."  (Psalm 37:4)
 
"...and just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven..."  (1 Corinthians 15:49)

"...so then, it was not you who sent me here, but God..."  (Genesis 45:8)

​"...do unto others as you  would have them do unto you..."  (Luke 6:31)

PRAYER
Gracious God,   We want to praise you this day for a "new teaching" that  we may well miss if we're not paying attention. You want  us to believe and understand that all things work for the good of those who love you, just as Saint Paul has written.  We have the notion that good situations are good situations,  and that bad situations are bad.
 
Before this made sense us, but now, our thoughts and  perception have been transformed by a new way of  perceiving reality. Indeed, as we commend ourselves into  your hands, and even sometimes before we do so, we  eventually recognize that you are in control of all things,  including the details of our lives. You don't cause bad things to happen, but you allow them.
 
In pleasant circumstances you bless us. In unpleasant and  challenging times you teach us and direct us. Even as we  submit ourselves to you, you do not exempt us from difficulties,  painful experiences, and even tragedies.
 
Thus, we praise you no matter our circumstances. It is the only way to look at ourselves and life. It may take some doing at times, but we trust you, Lord, and believe your Word.
 
Thank you, Father God. As you didn't allow your only begotten Son to be exempt from suffering, and even dying on the cross,  only to be raised up, thus, you will call us to follow the path that  the Lord Jesus trod...and yet, know, that victory lies ahead.
 
In Jesus' name, Amen.
 
THE MESSAGE
 
Along the way we may find ourselves feeling the way Jesus felt when, knowing what was about to happen on Calvary, (on the Mount  of Olives), He asked the Father:
 
"Father, if you are willing,  take this cup from me,  yet, not my will,  but yours, be done." (Luke 6:42)
 
How is it that we can be human---with all our self-imposed preferences, desires, dreams and goals---and yet, sense that the Lord God has a plan for us that will satisfy us completely and make our life truly something remarkable?
 
Yet, even being a Christian, and reluctant, we have a better plan for our lives, let's put that Bible thing on hold...
 
...some day, Lord---some time...now...
 
Contemplating the idea of obedience to God in the midst of truly dark circumstances, and trusting God anyway, i.e., "...but deliver me  from evil..." (Matthew 6:13b), I'm reminded of  one of my very special portions of the Scriptures,  that being, Genesis 37-50, the story of Joseph.
 
In my view, initially, Joseph wasn't the very nicest of brothers. Rather than supporting his eleven brothers, he turned out to be their "tattletale". Genesis 37:2 says, "...he brought their father a bad  report bad report about them..." They hated him.​

Israel (Jacob), his father, loved Joseph more than his other sons. Joseph received a "coat of many colors"---his brothers hated him all the more and  couldn't say any kind word about him. He had  dreams that made them hate him all the more.
 
They plotted to kill him and stripped him of the robe. They sold their brother to a caravan of Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver to be sold as a slave in Egypt. They soaked his coat in goat's blood and showed it to Jacob, who deeply mourned his son.

Joseph was sold to Potiphar. Potiphar trusted Joseph and put him in charge of everything in the household.  Joseph was a handsome young man. Potiphar's wife went after him and Joseph refused her. His owner put him in prison, trusting his wife, rather than Joseph.
 
In prison, eventually, Joseph was made responsible  for all that was done there. In the prison the Pharoah's cupbearer and baker offended their master and they were put in prison where Joseph was. At one point each had a dream which Joseph interpreted.
 
The chief cupbearer was restored to the Pharoah's  household. Joseph said to him, "...when all goes well with you, remember me and show kindness to me...mention me to Pharoah and get me out of this  prison..." The chief cupbearer, however, did not  remember Joseph; he forgot him.
 
Two full years went by. It happened that Pharoah  had two dreams. His mind was troubled. He passed along the details of the dreams but his advisors couldn't interpret the dreams. At this point the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph. Pharoah sent for him and he appeared before Pharoah. He told Joseph about the dreams and Joseph told him the dreams were about an upcoming seven years of famine.
 
Genesis 41:39-41: "...then Pharoah said to Joseph, 'Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.' So then, Pharoah said to Joseph, '...I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt...' Then Pharoah took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger."
 
There is no indication from the Scriptures that Joseph ever complained about his predicament or misfortune. What Joseph went through, time  after time, situation after situation...he bore waiting for the Lord's deliverance and blessing. 
 
The Lord was with him despite the fact that Joseph was not exempted for terrible suffering and misfortune.  As a seminary professor once said to us, "...Joseph  got sour lemons...and he always made lemonade..."
 
His brothers wanted to kill him. They sold him into slavery. His owner rejected him upon his wife's lies though he was totally worthy of trust. He was sent to prison. In time he was put in charge of the prison. His time in prison was the springboard for him to have audience before the most powerful human being in the world. Once despised, sold, enslaved, betrayed, and forgotten, Joseph became the most powerful  human being in the world in terms of his function.
 
In a powerful way, he became a "savior" for Egypt  and the world, having gone through the very worst  a person could experience. A simple, profound faith  provided the crowning touch...
 
The dream he had about his brothers came true.  They eventually had to come to him and bow  before him, as Joseph had dreamed, because  of the world famine to ask for food. They found  out that "this all-powerful man" was the same person (their own brother) they had wanted to kill  and did sell into slavery. You can just imagine  what they thought they had coming...
 
So, you'd think Joseph would've wanted revenge on his brothers. No. He delighted in seeing his brothers and and wanted to see his youngest brother, Benjamin, and his father---Joseph could no longer control himself... he was overcome by his feelings...to see his family  once again...
 
The words Joseph spoke to his brothers when they realized that this was Joseph touch our hearts and cause us to reconsider all positive and negative experiences in our lives...
 
"...I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you..." (Genesis 45:4,5)

The story of Joseph is, without doubt, one of the great pieces of world literature as well as divinely-revealed truth. How essential it is that every human being be exposed to Genesis 37-50. There is no other story  that can so powerfully motivate us to receive and accept  an informed vision that includes the affirmation that---there  is no failure in a life with God! ​

Whatever happens to us,  it's part of His perfect plan for our lives. Who knows?  We could be a "tattle-tail" or "dingbat" like Joseph,  rejected, abused and abandoned, and end up being  the person who saves the world---trusting in a God  who will not let us go. Though we are less than perfect human beings, the Lord has a perfect plan for our lives.​

The crowning touch is the fact that Joseph didn't hold a grudge against those who had done him wrong. We have to admit. Joseph either finally got his program together, or had it together all along. We can do the same. The standard is not that set by the world, but by God, through the ministry of Christ Jesus.
 
I love the story of Joseph. The bottom line for us is that we can learn so much about coming to terms with the things that have happened in our lives. We can grab on to the notion that God is not trying to pick on us. He will allow the things that happen---for a purpose---and our completion and success in life will be, so to speak, to "go with the punches", and trust that God is allowing it to happen for a special purpose. I am convinced that in our humility and trust in the Lord, we will become: 
 
"...more than conquerors through Him who has loved us..."  (Romans 8:37)
 
During difficult and troubled times, you have someone who prays for you and hopes the very best for you always. May the Lord bless you richly!
 
Cordially, Tom