I told you about the Revive Weekend I was able to participate in this weekend. The main text of the weekend was the story of Joseph. In the last year the story of Joseph has been brought in my Bible studies six times in the last year. One of the first things that got my attention was Friday night. The Lord gave two dreams to Joseph and he boldly told those dreams to his family (Genesis 37:1-10). Now truth be told, his family did not receive the telling of his dreams with joy (Genesis 37:12-36). In fact his brothers sold him into slavery and told their father that he had been killed. While they were deciding what to do with him, they threw him in a cistern (a pit).

We aren’t told what Joseph was thinking or feeling while he was in the pit or when he was sold into slavery. But from all that we read later in the story, he kept his faith in the Lord and continued to work as if for the Lord in the house of his master Potiphar. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col. 3:23-24) Joseph never forgot the dreams the Lord gave him, and he continued to trust in the Lord. “The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.” (Gen. 39:2)

This morning I was reminded of David going through difficulty, and what his thoughts were and I was thinking that must have been what Joseph was feeling. “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.” (Ps. 40:1-3)

I don’t know about you, but I can definitely testify to the many times the Lord lifted me out of “slimy pits” and set my feet on a firm place to stand. While Joseph was a slave, “The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered”. We may not be in the place we thought we would be, but as long as we keep our eyes on the Lord, we can know that no matter our circumstances, He is with us.

He is with us wherever we are in our walk with the Lord. But it’s important to remember that our testimonies, our lives the Lord has saved it not just for our benefit. It is for His plan, His purpose. We are to share His good news with others. “I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.” (Ps. 40:10) 

When we listen for the Holy Spirit to guide us, He will. “He will glorify me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what He will make known to you.” (John 16:14-15)  And, like the Holy Spirit, we are also to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ and make Him known. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Let’s share His hope with others, for that is truly loving one another. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) Let’s let His light shine through us, to show the only way to the Father. (Matthew 5:14-16).