Manna for Your Morning

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. — Luke 2:7 (NKJV) Have you ever had to call around attempting to make a reservation only to find out everything is full, totally booked? I imagine it was like that for Joseph and Mary as they sought a place to stay in Bethlehem. Well, everyday Jesus stands and knocks on the door of our hearts, desiring for us to open the door and let Him enter. Do you let Him in, or do you hold the door closed because you don’t want Him to see how messy your house is? Or is your heart so cluttered with affections for things of this world, that there is no room for Jesus? Decide everyday, to make room for Jesus in your heart, —His home. He wants to dine with you. Let Him in and partake of the bread of life and be filled with the living water.

“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” — Luke 24:26 (NKJV)  Jesus was falsely accused, mocked, condemned to death, and crucified before He entered into His glory. Joseph landed in the palace, by way of a pit and prison. Joshua endured the forty year journey through the wilderness before he stepped foot on the Promised Land. Can we see the things we suffer as temporary events, that God will turn around, to reveal His glory in our lives? For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. — Genesis 45:4-5 (NKJV) What Joseph’s brothers meant for evil, God used for good and the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20). Isaiah 54:17 says, no weapon formed against you shall prosper. The Word doesn't say the weapon would not be formed, just that it will not prosper. Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeals that come (1 Peter 4:12), just keep trusting God to work it all together for good.

The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. — Genesis 39:23 (NKJV) Joseph was sold as slave by his brothers and eventually thrown into prison based on a false accusation. Joseph did all the right things but still finds himself in prison. The most important thing is that God was with Joseph and He had a plan for his life that was very good. Things may not always appear to be working in your favor, but the LORD is with you too and He has a wonderful plan for your life as well.

Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. — Matthew 1:19 (NIV) After Joseph considered divorcing Mary secretly, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife (Matthew 1:24). As a faithful man, Joseph was willing to allow his love to be a covering for Mary. He did not want to publicly shame or disgrace her. And even though he did not necessarily understand the situation, he obeyed God. Will you be a faithful man or woman of God and totally trust Him enough to just obey Him, when you situations in your life just don’t make sense? Will you keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins? (1 Peter 4:...