What are you betting your life on?
The other day I noticed a pamphlet on someone's counter, that argued that the best of the Holy Spirit was reserved for those who pack that little more into their request to God, evoke a little more emotion, demonstrate a little more zeal, and, well, you get the idea. Now, that just wonderful, unless of course you are strugoing to understand the details of a particularly difficult period in your life and all you find is, well, work harder, pray harder, and emote louder... This is not mere semantics because I share relatives and friends who have been led to believe that their possession of the Holy Spirit requires the kind of spiritual gymnastics that makes the His power available to only a precious few...
But then, there is Joseph.
With last week's sermon still fresh in our minds, and Joseph still pursuing God's presence, I am nevertheless struck by the continuity of Joseph's life. In the midst of a loss of family and freedom, Joseph maintains a certain
soundness in his life. He has achieved a success associated with living in God's will and it is clear that the Lord's blessing as well as his presence is with Joseph.
But there is trouble on the horizon. What God designed as attractive to a world in real need of help, Mrs. Potiphar seeks to command for her own lusts. All of which brings us to
three words that I find compelling and all true of Joseph. He has
convictions, that are not weakened by the God prepared perameters for his life. The one restriction placed upon Joseph is not viewed as a limitation but a great strength in the development of his character. He has
resistance, that is not weakened by a daily barrage of seductive pursuits. He knows the dangers of an adulterous woman. And finally, he demonstrates a
push-back that refuses to submit to sin, even when it has attached itself to his physical body. He left, pushed her away, I might add and fled the scene.
Now, tell me, who does that?
Rick Warren once noted, that everyone is "betting their life on something." This is often referred to as your worldview.
I take great comfort in knowing that when Joseph stepped into the crucible of life and death, where the wrong answer could have meant
immediate execution, he responded,"
But how can I do this great evil and sin against God." Now, that's a line in the sand... You can bet your bottom dollar that Joseph was betting his life on something, someone higher than his own judgement.
The truth is not left to us to play with, and life's challenges usually come down to a decision we make in the moment. We owe our family and friends the legacy of making our mark on the world, by betting our life on nothing less than the expressed will of the Great God and Savior of our lives, who loves us and died for us..
Walk wisely
