Are you waiting upon God’s perfect timing?

 17 Jan 26

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One


Readings:

Genesis 41

Matthew 13:1-32


My times are in Your hand (Psalm 31:15). 


Are you waiting upon God’s perfect timing?


Joseph faithfully serves God whether in Potiphar’s house or prison. He interprets the dreams of the butler and baker accurately. Yet he languishes in prison for another two years after the butler’s restoration to his service (Genesis 41:1). Our responsibility is to wait upon God knowing that He will work according to His perfect timing. Isaiah writes about the Father, “Who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4). God’s flawless punctuality also applies to the birth of Jesus Christ. Paul pens, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son” (Galatians 4:4). Even the timing of Jesus’ teaching on parables aligns with God’s plan. Jesus transitions to regularly teaching parables “on the same day” (Matthew 13:1) that His miracles are being attributed to Satan’s power by the religious hierarchy (Matthew 12:24). 


Employment Point: Wait upon the Lord, knowing that His timing is perfect.

———————

Reflections

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever

Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God

The everlasting God

You do not faint

You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak

You comfort those in need

You lift us up on the wings

Like eagles

  • above are the lyrics from the song “Everlasting God”. A song that popped up while I was reading this devotional.


“Then Pharaoh 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.””Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • we are reminded from these verses that the Lord does restore. Before Joseph was thrown into prison, that was who he was, with many reporting to him and him only reporting to one. We do see how the Lord has made use of every opportunity to bless Joseph and even reminded the cupbearer of his shortcomings by giving Pharaoh the dreams. The Lord has it all under his control and in the midst of all these, Joseph again rise up because his obedience and patience with the Lord.
  • Joseph’s patience and waiting delivered him out of the situation in entirety. We may think during those years it was all wasted but no, our Lord doesn’t waste any time spent. We knew Joseph had grown in wisdom by how he talked with Pharaoh and how he even advised him on how to counter the famine that the country is about to experience. Even Pharaoh saw that God is with him. Joseph would have never thought that the strategy he provided for Pharaoh would help his family too. Only the Lord can orchestrate such massive awesomeness!


“The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.””Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭52‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • Joseph’s consistent efforts to still remember and praise God is something we ought to learn. We know from this verse that Joseph did suffer when he was in Egypt. But he did not really complain but yet praise God for blessing him with sons and for making him fruitful.
  • This attitude is something we can all learn. Not complaining when we are suffering but continue to look up to God and seek him always. He knows every thing that we are going through and every challenge that we find hard to overcome. But we should also remember that we are never alone in this journey. God is with us, always!


“The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • this verse somehow also reminds me of what Jesus said about people crying “Lord, Lord but He do not know them”. Only the ones whose heart is with and for Jesus will understand for he has given them the Holy Spirit as their personal guide. By our own wisdom or knowledge, there is no way we can understand what the Lord is trying to tell us. And there are also certain things that He will keep from us because it is just not timed yet to be revealed so He will blind us till the time is right. 
  • This learning journey felt like a long degree course. One where we have to learn the basic fundamentals first and pass the modules before we can proceed to the more complex ones. And before we do, the complex issues will not be presented to us as we are not yet equipped for it.
  • Father help us not to be afraid to move forward and grow in you, for You are gentle and loving. Equip us with the necessary wisdom and knowledge so that we are able to stand firm in our faith and proceed to the next levels. May we all be able to graduate with flying colours and be ascended into heaven in due time.


““ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • When I was reading this two verses, it seemed to me that the Lord allowed evil to dwell with us not because he didn’t want to remove it but it was not time to do so. I am sure when we experienced darkness or pain that it was all for our learning experience or a test of our faith. Ultimately when the time comes, all these evil will be removed and we will have heaven on earth. Let us then persevere to the finishing line and bring glory to God ✝️🙌🏻

—————————-

God’s Nature and Ours

BY OSWALD CHAMBERS

January 17


But when God . . . was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles . . . —Galatians 1:15–16


If the call of God is an expression of his nature, and not our own, how are we to answer it? Paul writes that he went out to preach the gospel when God called. The call was God’s; the preaching was Paul’s interpretation of it, an action fitted to Paul’s own nature. Paul had always been able to preach, but now, having received the Holy Spirit, he began to use his gift for God’s purposes.


This is what service means: God’s nature awakening and filtering through our own. God’s own nature is supernatural, but our acts of service to him are always part of our natural lives. We may be called to serve him in big ways or in small, through the seemingly unimportant tasks that fill our days. The size of the act doesn’t matter. If we perform it as an act of service, it becomes a sacramental expression. To serve God is the deliberate love gift of a nature that has heard his call.


If I have received God’s nature, if the Holy Spirit dwells inside me, I will hear the most beautiful echo when God calls, the voice from outside resounding on the inside, the two joining together to help me do his work. When the life of Jesus is revealed in me in this way, I will serve God’s purposes all the time, pouring myself out in superabounding devotion to him.


Genesis 41-42; Matthew 12:1-23


WISDOM FROM OSWALD

God engineers circumstances to see what we will do. Will we be the children of our Father in heaven, or will we go back again to the meaner, common-sense attitude? Will we stake all and stand true to Him? “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” The crown of life means I shall see that my Lord has got the victory after all, even in me. 

————————-

Reflections

If we ever do receive the call from God, I would say give thanks. Because none of us are perfect human beings since we were all sinners, work-in-progresses, and have a limited understanding of who God really is.


He qualifies the called and not call the qualified. Even times when we felt we can but we actually can’t. Or the times when we felt we can’t, but by His grace only, we can. The only difference is a willing heart to do what He calls us to, in whatever small or big situations or ministries. It is through all the experiences that we begin to learn and see that He is in full control of everything. That we may not know and understand whatever that is happening but we have a God who does. That in every situation, there is always the goodness of God-even when we do not or may not see it there and then.


I felt like every calling is an opportunity for us to serve the Lord in various ways. It may not even be going to be missionary or to work in church sort of thing. It can be things as simple as giving up seats for someone in need, or lending a helping hand like the Good Samaritan. The Lord calls us in various different situations and builds up our confidence as well as obedience. Every single time we obey is a step up towards heaven. Can you imagine yourself running up the stairway to heaven just by being obedient to each and every task given by the Lord?


*A post I saw pretty much sums up the gist. It said “Even the demons believe-but they disobey. The difference isn’t belief, it’s obedience.”* 

  • therefore know what you are choosing. If you are not for Him then you are against Him.


Let’s pray: Father, may You grant us a willing heart to love and serve Your people. Guide us to the things that You require us to change and equip us with the necessary skills to do so. In the times that we fall short, Lord have mercy upon us and guide us back to the right paths for Your name’s sake. Help us to be able to fully trust and obey so that every step we take is a closer step to heaven and not the fiery hell. May all that we do be pleasing to Your eyes as we do Your will. In Jesus’s name we ask and pray. Amen 🙏🏻 

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