GOD NEEDS MORE JOSEPHS!
Greetings! It is good to be back home after attending several meetings throughout this week at Burman University, our great Canadian Adventist University. Today, I will participate in a “Church Planting Service and Seminar” (am & pm) at the Abbotsford Church, envisioning to plant a South Asia congregation in the area. Pastor Clifmond Shameerudeen, GC Center for South Asia Religions Director, will be the main speaker. Please keep this project in your prayers!
This morning I would like to consider the life of Joseph. Genesis 39:9 (NIV) gives a glimpse about his character: “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” The story of Joseph’s life is fascinating. It is one full of emotions and marked by his fidelity to God and His principles. His life is probably the one that comes closer to be a “shadow” of Jesus’ life. Joseph was spiritually, morally, and physically pure amongst the rampant immorality existent in Egypt in his days. Even Potiphar’s house, where he lived for 10 years, was not a safe place and one free of temptation. Joseph was about 25 years old and was strong and attractive when the wife of his master tempted him consistently to engage in an illicit relationship with her. He refused that because he walked closely with God and would not surrender to such a thing.
Yes, it was Joseph’s love for God that enabled him to reject those invitations, maybe even orders, to act wrongly. He won! He was a slave and could have simply decided “to obey” and… nobody would know about it because after all it was a common situation… . His struggle was long and hard, but Joseph chose to be victorious. The sense of God’s presence in his life gave him the strength to become a winner. It is vital for everyone to have and enjoy that sense of God’s presence in their lives. It brings the awareness of what is right and wrong. That was what helped Joseph to say: “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
For Joseph, his sin would not be against any individual, but God Himself. His victory united him with His Creator and gave him strength to overcome future temptations. Jesus expects the same from us today!
My prayer is that all of us will depend on Jesus, always. Then, when confronted by temptations, we would “run to His arms” and He will shield us from the enemy’s snares and make us more than conquerors, by His power. We need more Josephs today!
Let’s us pray for:
- The various ministries’ training at the Westminster Church next Sabbath, Feb 8 (poster attached) aiming to equip church members to carry God’s work forward.
Let’s thank God for:
- Over 40% growth in baptisms and POF in 2019, when compared with 2018 figures.
Thank you for your dedication to God’s Cause!
Happy Sabbath!
In His Service,
Wesley Torres
President
