The story of Joseph is surreal if you were to put it in today’s context. He was sold into slavery, falsely accused and thrown into prison, and promoted to Prime Minister of Egypt to save the people from famine. That wouldn’t just make a Hollywood movie. It would be a multi-part series. God can use your pain for His good. Today we see what happens when others wrong you.

‭‭GENESIS‬ ‭50:20

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

Joseph suffered the ultimate humiliation when his brothers sold him into slavery. They were sick of his smugness and the favoritism their father showed to him. Since he was the child of Jacob’s favored wife, Rachel, he got more attention and favor. The brothers thought that if they got rid of him, that would go away. This sends Joseph on a path no one would choose, but God uses it for His purposes and glory. Joseph becomes a slave in Potiphar’s house, then thrown into prison, which sets up the opportunity for him to interpret Pharaoh’s dream and become the prime minister of Egypt so he can save his family from famine.

My teenage daughter just started driving. One of the joys of parenting has been teaching her, but letting her go on her own has been more difficult than I imagined. When she is driving, I am not able to protect her. I worry about her getting into an accident. I have to trust that she is in God’s hands. Did you know that Jesus prayed to His Father to keep you close? Today we look at a prayer to protect you.

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭17:11‬

“I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.”

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is the greatest in all of the Bible. Jesus pours out His heart and asks His Father to keep His disciples when He is gone. They will be in a dark world full of wickedness and against everything they believe. Jesus knows without His Father’s protection, His disciples will not survive. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you are more than protected from the attacks of the enemy, you are held close to God, and He keeps you. That means He gives you everything you need to thrive while here on earth.

One of the best things about camping is the campfire late at night after a full day of hiking. Sitting around and reminiscing about old times or telling stories makes the trip memorable. Putting that fire out when everyone is ready to go to bed can be challenging. Even the following day, you can stoke the coals and resurrect the fire. You have to drench that fire to make it go out. Many Christians do that exact thing regarding the Holy Spirit working in their church. Paul tells us, “Don’t quench the Spirit.”

‭‭1 THESSALONIANS‬ ‭5:19-21

“Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.”

The Holy Spirit was given to us as a helper and guide. He is there to convict us of sin and reveal God’s Word. Too many churches have taken too much liberty when it comes to the workings of the Spirit, and too many have throttled His work in response. Paul tells the church, “Don’t quench the Spirit.” The Spirit is likened to a burning flame, and we are to fan the flame as opposed to snuffing it out. Churches do that when they don’t let gifts like prophecy be used.

Being a shepherd is a lonely job. You are out in the wilderness with nothing but sheep for long stretches of time. In Biblical times, the shepherd would often have to roam the country side taking his sheep to where there was enough food for them to eat. At night they would sit up protecting the sheep against attacks from wolves and bears. God fashions Himself as your shepherd. He has created you and cares for you.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭100:3

“Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

There are so many references to Israel as sheep. For good reason. Sheep were their main source of protein and from which they made all of their clothes. Sheep also were the featured animal in the passover and in temple sacrifices. Every Israelite knew the tendencies of sheep and could easily apply the lessons to themselves. Here, the Psalmist refers to the country as a flock of sheep and God as their shepherd. He wanted his readers to know that they were in God’s possession.

I’ve written several times that I live in wine country. All around the area in which I live are vineyards. I have several friends who are vintners or winemakers. They make award-winning wines that people from all over California come to taste. If you ask them some of the most important aspects of winemaking, they will tell you vine management. Making sure those vines get enough sun is essential to a goo

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭15:4‬

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”

Jesus uses a word picture that everyone one of His listeners can understand. Jews were familiar with vineyards because they dotted the landscape of Israel. Wine was a typical drink, and many had participated in the harvest and grape crushing. They knew that no grapes would grow unless the branch was attached to the vine. The vineyard manager took special care of the vines to ensure optimum growth. Jesus tells the crowd that He is the vine and that they need to be attached to Him to see spiritual fruit grow in their lives. Unless they remained attached, they would wither up and die.

When you go on vacation or holiday, part of the preparation is arranging a place to stay. For some they go to visit family, others go camping, while others reserve a hotel. Wherever you go, you expect the place you will be staying to be prepared for you. No one wants to walk into a dirty hotel room with an unmade bed or a campsite littered with garbage from the previous camper. If you have a reservation for heaven, a place is waiting for you. Jesus went to prepare it for you.

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭14:2

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”

Jesus used a mansion as an illustration of what heaven would look like. There are many dwelling places, or as some translations use the word rooms. It makes you picture a glorious place waiting for you when you enter through the pearly gates. Heaven is going to be better than anything you can imagine. You will be in the presence of the Almighty God, there will be no more weeping, and you will be inhabiting your new physical body. Not too shabby.

There has been a controversy in the United States over people taking a knee during sports events. It upset a lot of people, especially those who had served in our military. A former president got behind the protest, blowing up the controversy from there. Whatever side you are on in the debate, you need to understand that one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. As a disciple of Jesus, you need to submit yourself to His authority. It’s time to take a knee and worship.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭95:6-7‬

“Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice,”

Taking a knee is a symbol of submission to someone over you. You’ve seen people do it for kings and popes for centuries. The Psalmist in Psalms 95 beckons his readers to make kneeling a part of their worship. He reasons that God is over every king and Pope and thus deserves our worship and surrender. It isn’t an act of humiliation but one of utmost respect. It also heightens your worship as your heart is given entirely to the Lord.

Most people didn’t give one thought to growing wheat until the war in the Ukraine. This hit home when the store shelves weren’t as full as they once were. Now people know that most of the wheat that people use in the world is grown there. Without wheat there is no flour and without flour there are no baked goods. This affects the supply chain not only at the grocery stores but at restaurants and beyond. If you can’t sow any seeds you are not going to have anything to reap. Jesus uses this analogy to say, “Don’t lose your life.”

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭12:25

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Every Christian knows that prayer is essential to the life of a disciple, yet most struggle with making time. Jesus often prayed in a remote place after spending the day doing ministry. This shows us that it is a challenge, even for the best. Paul encourages the Colossians to develop a habit of prayer. He knew as a young church, that would serve them best. We could grow a lot from heeding Paul’s advice.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭4:2

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”

Paul tells the Colossians about two crucial aspects of prayer when going through difficult times. The first tip he gives them is to devote themselves to prayer. Devotion means to be committed and consistent. When you are devoted to prayer, you remain alert to what the enemy is doing. The Holy Spirit gives you discernment and makes you aware of what is coming. The second tip Paul gives is to keep an attitude of thanksgiving. The danger with prayer when you are in the midst of a crisis is to focus on the needs and strength to get through and forget to give thanks for what God has done for you in the midst. I always try to start my prayer with thanksgiving.

People would pay big money if someone could show them the path to happiness. Many have promised, but all have failed except one, Jesus Christ. He promises abundant life for those who follow Him and warns against a thief who wants to steal that happiness. It’s up to you to choose the life you want.

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

A disciple of Jesus Christ needs to be alert and on their guard because they have a target on their back. There is an enemy which Jesus refers to as a thief. He wants to steal the joy you have, kill any life you have in Christ, and destroy your hope. The Apostle Paul tells you in Ephesians 6 to Stand Firm in your faith. Don’t give up any ground to this enemy. Any foothold of doubt or discouragement can trip you up.

Studies have been done in the workplace and found that over 60% of workers would leave their job if they had a better opportunity. The number one reason they would leave is their supervisor. This is even more interesting because the same survey found over 60% of bosses are happy with their job and don’t want to leave. What do Christians do when they are in a situation that isn’t ideal? Paul tells the Colossians to work heartily for the Lord.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭3:23-24

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Paul gives his readers some practical advice when it comes to working. He tells the Colossians to work heartily for the Lord. That means your motivation to get up and go to work should be from a desire to please Him. You may try to impress your boss or customer, but you understand that the eternal rewards come from the Lord. You serve Jesus first and foremost. He is the one you will have to give an account.

One of the hardest things to watch is to see someone you love suffer. If you are a parent, you want to take your child’s place or protect them in some way. Seeing them struggle through the crisis makes it hard because you are powerless to make it better. Jesus came to earth to take your place. He went to the cross so he could bear your sins. The world was changed from that day on.

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

On what we call Good Friday, Jesus was hung upon the cross so that He could bear your sins. He who knew no sing became sin for you so that you might not perish. That Friday afternoon, He hung on a tree and bore the weight of all of your sin. The mind-blowing part is that Jesus wasn’t forced to do it; He did it willingly. He substituted your life with His and took the punishment you deserve.

As I write this, it is Holy Week. I am in full preparation mode for three different services to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. Easter Morning is always such a wonderful day, but I love our Good Friday service just as much. One question I frequently get is, “Who really killed Jesus?” Some say the Romans, and others say the Jews. I always reply that God used both to accomplish what He sent His Son to do. Did you know Isaiah prophesied about it 750 years before it happened?

Isaiah 53:10

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53 is one of the four servant songs. This final one is known as the “suffering servant.” It vividly describes the suffering that Jesus endured while on the cross. The fact that Isaiah foretells it hundreds of years before it happens is mind-boggling. It wasn’t until the 12th century AD that Jewish rabbis acknowledged it and then tried to say the servant was Israel. We won’t go into those flaws, but suffice it to say the servant talked about here is Jesus. He fulfilled every one of these prophesies.

My kids loved turning all of the lights off in the house and playing hide and seek. To say there were tons of screams would be an understatement. As parents, my wife and I would be in tears laughing at how scared our kids were. They were afraid to look behind doors and curtains out of fear their sibling would scare them to death. In our relationship with Jesus, we are hidden with Him and spend the rest of our days on earth seeking His heart. It’s a different kind of hide and seek.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭3:3

“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

When you put your faith and trust in Jesus, you die to your old life. Sure, you still have your physical body, but the old spirit has been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), and you have been resurrected into a new one hidden with Christ. What does it mean to be hidden with Christ? A couple of devotionals back, I talked about God being our stronghold and refuge. The same principle applies. You can run to him and be protected within His strong fortress and thus focus your mind on things above.

Did you ever build forts when you were young? On rainy days my mom would let me and my brother transform one of the rooms in our house to make a fort. It would consume our whole day as we pulled out blankets and moved around furniture. We had tunnels, rooms, and secret escapes by the end of construction. Sometimes adults wish they could build a fort and escape from all of their troubles. While you may not have a physical fort to run to, you do have a stronghold in the Lord. David writes how the Lord is my stronghold and refuge.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭94:14, 22‬

“For the LORD will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance… But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.”

Strongholds were a reality back in David’s day. Most people lived outside the city on their land to farm it and raise animals, but whenever there was an enemy threat, they would run to the city that was surrounded by walls and close the gates. It was a safe place that protected them from enemy fire. You have a stronghold you can run to when the temptation and attacks of the enemy come after you. Jesus is your refuge.

Today we have a guest author. John Edson is the author of InspiredScripture.com, a commentary on several Old Testament books. I want to encourage you to head over there and check it out. The Bible tells you to find “joy” in your trials, But this is easier said than done. A Faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.

James 1:2-4

“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

If you have experienced a real trial, it is hard to find joy while you are going through it. When Job experienced his trials, he cursed the day of his birth (Job 3). David also sometimes cried out with bitter laments during his trials (e.g., 2 Samuel 1).

What does it mean to truly live? If you listen to those on social media or TV, you get the picture that it is traveling all over the world or having the latest and greatest gadget. This leaves most people out in the cold because those pipe dreams are unattainable. If you try to pursue those dreams, you can end up feeling defeated if not destroyed. Jesus came to give you life. More than you can imagine

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Satan wants to destroy your life. He lures you in with temptations that promise the good life. Sadly, most people who give in to those temptations end up feeling cheated. They get to the end of the rainbow, and the pot is empty. Jesus came to give life to all who believe in Him. That life is more than you can imagine. He wants to give you everything His Father has given Him. That includes inheriting eternal life, His righteousness making things right between you and God, and an unending source of joy and peace.

The most asked question that Christians want to know is, “What is God’s will for my life?” People want to know the direction their life is going to take. They want to know that their life has a purpose. Did you know that God fulfills His purpose in you by what you’re doing right now? Even if it isn’t what you imagined doing, Jesus is doing a work through you. Take a lesson from Joseph and allow God to have His way.

‭‭GENESIS‬ ‭41:40

“You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.”

Joseph is one of the great characters of the Bible. You don’t hear about any sinful behavior except his youth immaturity when he told his brothers about his dreams. For that, he was chastised by his father, ostracized by his brothers, and sold into slavery. Even that was used for God’s purposes. Joseph was the favored son of his father and treated better than his brothers, but he was still taught a good work ethic. That served him well when he was a slave in Potiphar’s house, prison, and eventually as Prime Minister over Egypt. When he interpreted Pharoah’s dream, he became second in command. Everyone had to listen to his orders. Not bad for someone who was dealt a bad hand.

There are tons of people you wish you could be with, but either space or time limits you. These are the kinds of people that if you saw them, it would be like you were never apart. There is such a kindred spirit that you feel as if you were family. God blesses us with people like this for a season, and then they are gone. It is said to be a part, but you know they are with you in spirit. That is how Paul felt about the Colossians, even though he had never met them.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭2:5

“For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.”

Paul wanted to be with the Colossians, but his schedule wouldn’t allow it. He was too busy dealing with the drama of the Corinthians and the legalism of the Galatians. That’s what happens when you are the leader of the Gentile churches. You deal with the problems and pray for those thriving like the Colossians and Philippians. He had to be satisfied being with them in spirit as the work in their areas continued. He rejoiced at their discipline and stability afar when he received reports.

Some parts of the Bible are difficult to understand, and it takes a good teacher or some resources to help figure it out. Other parts are easy to understand but may be challenging to implement. Today’s passage falls under that category. Paul gives his readers some practical advice that is easy to comprehend but a challenge to live daily. If you dig a little deeper, you will see some keys to help.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭1:10‬

“so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

The first part of Colossians is Paul praying for a church he has never met. In a way, it really shows his pastoral heart. He is writing this letter to encourage them in the faith. The church was started by two guys who were with Paul in Ephesus, and they went back home and started a church. It is doing so well that Paul has heard about their good works and wants them to continue. He prays that they will glorify God in their lives, bear fruit from their good works, and increase in knowledge. Practical advice we all should follow.