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 1Galatians 2
February
Galatians 3Galatians 4Galatians 5Galatians 6God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 1God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 2God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 3God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 4God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 5God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 6Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 1Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 2Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 3Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 4Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 5Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 6Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 1Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 2Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 3Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 4Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 5Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 6Delights • Devotion 1Delights • Devotion 2
March
Delights • Devotion 3Delights • Devotion 4Delights • Devotion 5Delights • Devotion 6Final Class • Devotion 1Final Class • Devotion 2Final Class • Devotion 3Final Class • Devotion 4Final Class • Devotion 5Final Class • Devotion 6A Place for You • Devotion 1A Place for You • Devotion 2A Place for You • Devotion 3A Place for You • Devotion 4A Place for You • Devotion 5A Place for You • Devotion 6The Helper • Devotion 1The Helper • Devotion 2The Helper • Devotion 3The Helper • Devotion 4The Helper • Devotion 5The Helper • Devotion 6True Vine • Devotion 1True Vine • Devotion 2True Vine • Devotion 3True Vine • Devotion 4True Vine • Devotion 5
April
True Vine • Devotion 6The World • Devotion 1The World • Devotion 2The World • Devotion 3The World • Devotion 4The World • Devotion 5The World • Devotion 6Peace • Devotion 1Peace • Devotion 2Peace • Devotion 3Peace • Devotion 4Peace • Devotion 5Peace • Devotion 6Focus on Jesus • Devotion 1Focus on Jesus • Devotion 2Focus on Jesus • Devotion 3Focus on Jesus • Devotion 4Focus on Jesus • Devotion 5Focus on Jesus • Devotion 6The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 1The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 2The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 3The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 4
Categories
Tags
no tags