datethewordtest

Tag: Hebrews

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 24 (10/24) is Hebrews 10:24

    “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,” – Hebrews 10:24
    “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” – 1 Corinthians 10:24
    I believe this is the first time I have tied two verses together for the verse for the date of a day.  As I looked at verses for October 24 (10/24) I could not decide between the two and as I looked at them they really fit well together. 

    OTHERS NEED YOU!

    As we consider the two verses, they both clearly convey that OTHERS NEED US. Along with these two verses are numerous other verses instructing us to do things for each other.  We are not to live SELF-CENTERED lives.  I trust you know that when you are all wrapped up in yourself you make for a very small package.  Life takes on a whole new meaning when we are OUTWARD-focused rather than INWARD-focused.  

    Hebrews 10:24 tells us to “consider one another.”   The word “consider” means to LOOK CAREFULLY.  It is to see what is needed.  As we see what is needed, we “stir” one another up.  To “stir” is to bring to life as one might do with a fire that is burning down.  The writer wants us to see how the fire in others may be burning down and how they need ENCOURAGEMENT to KEEP on LOVING and KEEP ON DOING GOOD WORKS.  

    1 Corinthians 10:24 tells us to SEEK the WELL-BEING of OTHERS.  We look to see what is needed for them to be spiritually healthy.  Rather than focusing only on OUR NEEDS, we are looking out for the NEEDS of OTHERS.  

    Two verses to DATE – to ponder.  Both want us as believers to consider OTHERS. 

    So how is the transformation of self-seeking and selfishness to selflessness and service to others going?  

    Verses to DATE the Word on October 24 (10/24) are Hebrews 10:24 and 1 Corinthians 10:24. Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,”  1 Corinthians 10:24 says, “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.”

    ONE-WORD MISSION STATEMENT: OTHERS
    Do you want to experience real JOY? Real joy is Jesus  Others  Yourself.  
    Jesus first.  Others next.  You last.

    While you may at some point think you do not need others there will always be others that need you!

    Continue Strong considering the NEEDS of OTHERS!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 28 (9/28) is Hebrews 9:28

    “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for
    Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” – Hebrews 9:28
    JESUS IS COMING AGAIN 

    Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, came from heaven to earth once to die. Yes, He was born to die.  That death was not because of anything He did but rather He died for ALL people, dying for us, dying in our place, and in doing so paid the price for our sins.   He took or as the verse says bore our sins and there is nothing we can do to be saved except accept Him.  As the hymn states JESUS PAID IT ALL.  There is also nothing more He needs to do. His offering was once and for all.

    Now while Hebrews 9:28 tells us about His FIRST COMING, it also tells us about His SECOND COMING.  Yes, friends, let us also be reminded that He is coming again! And the second coming will be different than the first. In His first coming He was the Man of sorrows who made atonement for sin. His second appearance will be as the Lord of His people, and will be the Judge of the quick and the dead.  

    One might say a great way to live is to start every day with PERHAPS TODAY! Perhaps this very day Jesus will call His bride, the church, home.  

    With that thought how might your walk with Jesus, your work for Jesus, your worship of Jesus, and your witness to others about Jesus be different?  What actions need to take place TODAY in light of the fact He may COME TODAY?

    With the thought of PERHAPS TODAY, I also like to give this principle regarding living that has been very helpful to me.  The principle is to live as if this was your last day, with a sense of urgency but also live today as if you have 100 more years here, with a sense of planning and working toward a better future.

    Our verse to DATE the Word on September 28 (9/28) is Hebrews 9:28. It says, “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

    As you re-read Hebrews 9:28 I trust that within your heart swells with gratitude for our wonderful Savior who paid in full our sin debt and there is within your heart a sense of anticipation for perhaps this very day He will return! 

    Continue Strong with anticipation of our SAVIOR’S RETURN
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 25 (7/25) is Hebrews 7:25

    “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” – Hebrews 7:25
    Our Savior who saves us is able to secure our salvation!

    When we think of the positions and works of Jesus Christ we are to include His ascension.  Upon completing His work given to Him by His Heavenly Father to do on earth, Jesus returns to heaven where He sits down at the right hand of the Father.  In this new position, He is our great High Priest of whom we come boldly to the throne of grace to get help. (Heb. 4:14-16) He serves as our advocate based on 1 John 2:1. We learn here in Hebrews 7:25 that He also intercedes for us. 

    Pause to imagine that Jesus is right now PRAYING for you!  He undertakes your causes and concerns and cares and conflicts, and He makes intercession for you.  He secures for you strength and grace to move forward.  

    When we consider our great salvation provided by our compassionate and loving Savior we need to know and must know that He who began a good work in us will complete it.  Because He is alive having risen from the dead, He has the power to fend off any foe that would seek to prevent the completion of our salvation. An earthly priest did not have such power.  The writer says He is able to save to the UTTERMOST.  The idea of uttermost is far greater than forever.  He is able to save COMPLETELY.  There will never be any abandonment of a child of God.  

    Placing our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is the wisest decision you could ever make for only He can provide a safe and secure salvation. We are safe and secure in the hands of the Savior!! What He starts He finishes! What a salvation and more importantly WHAT A SAVIOR!! Worthy is the Lamb!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 25 (7/25) is Hebrews 7:25. It says, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

    Continue Strong knowing Jesus is praying for you,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 15 (4/15) is Hebrews 4:15

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 15 (4/15) is Hebrews 4:15

    “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15
    He not only knows you – HE UNDERSTANDS!

    Our Savior and Lord is also our HIGH PRIEST and He knows first-hand about the struggles of life because He came to this earth and lived life as a human. He faced the very struggles and temptations we face. Because He knows our weaknesses, He sympathizes with us.  Let that sink in really deep.  He sympathizes with you!   

    Let us know that His sympathy is far more than feeling sorry for us.  Being sympathetic means He is ready to take action to help us handle what we are facing.  We have an open invitation to come boldly to the throne of grace to get help anytime we need it!  Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

    Growing up we would sing a Hymn titled Does Jesus Care?  The chorus would give a resounding YES.  

    One of the stanzas goes:
    Does Jesus care When I’ve tried and failed
    To resist some temptation strong?
    When for my deep grief there’s no relief
    Though the tears flow all the day long.

    Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares His heart is touched with my grief
    When the days are weary the long night dreary I know my Savior cares!

    WHAT A SAVIOR!!! What a High Priest!!  Does He CARE? OH YES! HE CARES!!!!
     
    Verse to DATE the Word on April 15 (4/15) is Hebrews 4:15. It says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” 

    Continue Strong knowing He CARES about you!
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on February 9 (2/9) is Hebrews 2:9

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 9 (2/9) is Hebrews 2:9

    Our verse to DATE the Word on February 9 (2/9) is Hebrews 2:9
    Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”
    BUT WE SEE JESUS

    The writer of Hebrews wants the reader to know JESUS IS BETTER! He is BETTER than any Old Testament Prophet. He is BETTER than any angel.  He is BETTER than any sacrificial system.  He is BETTER than Moses.  He is BETTER than Joshua. He is BETTER than any covenant.  He is BETTER than any promise.  He is BETTER than any man!  In short, CHRIST IS BETTER!!  

    As we look and consider our verse to DATE, we are pointed to SEE JESUS as HE is the only One worthy of being seen.  While it is true that for a little while He was made a little lower than angels, He carried out the Father’s will and He SUFFERED and DIED.  Don’t read that too quickly.  He SUFFERED AND DIED.  As the verse says, suffering death….that He might taste DEATH for everyone.  On the cross where He was CRUCIFIED, on that cruel cross, He DIED.  He experienced DEATH.  

    SEE HIM!!  As the hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote in When I Survey the Wonderous Cross, See from His head His hands His feet.  SEE HIM!  He is there for you, tasting, experiencing DEATH that He did not deserve.  

    Let 1 Peter 3:18 explain why He tasted death.  1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

    Let Hebrews 2:14 explain why He tasted death. Hebrews 2:14 says, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
    Let Hebrews 9:15 explain why He tasted death. Hebrews 9:15 says, “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

    How do we respond to the one who has SUFFERED and TASTED DEATH for us?  The verse says He is “crowned with glory and honor.”  His Father has crowned Him with glory and honor.  His Father has placed Him at His right hand.   His Father has decided that He is EXALTED and has a name ABOVE which is above every name.  Philippians 2:9 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

    SEE HIM!!!  BOW BEFORE HIM!!!  CONFESS THAT HE IS LORD!!!  CRY OUT with HEAVEN “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Rev. 4:11) “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength, and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. (Rev. 5:11-14)

    WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN, who TASTED DEATH!  Worthy to receive GLORY AND HONOR!   Let that be our response!

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 9 (2/9) is Hebrews 2:9. It says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

    Love so amazing demands my life, my soul, my all!

    Continue Strong with humble gratitude for the one who tasted death for you!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 29 (12/29) is Hebrews 12:29

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 29 (12/29) is Hebrews 12:29
    Hebrews 12:29  says, “For our God is a consuming fire.” 
    OUR GOD IS… Well, A CONSUMING FIRE

    Throughout our Bibles, we find NUMEROUS descriptions of God.  One can easily rattle off many of these descriptive words such as…..(what is the first to come to mind?)   Finish the sentence The LORD IS….?   I suspect you immediately thought The Lord is my SHEPHERD.  You may have also thought the LORD IS LOVE.  To finish the sentence “God is…” you probably immediately think HOLY! He is also gracious and good and great and merciful and kind and righteous and true, etc.  As we stated at the start we find numerous descriptions of God 

    As we consider descriptions of God, Hebrews 12:29 gives one we probably are not quick to place on our list, especially if we are doing the A to Z method.  Words starting with C to describe God almost always starts with COMPASSIONATE and COMFORTER and COUNSELOR, even CREATOR but I don’t think many of us think CONSUMING fire.   And even if you want to say the real description is FIRE I don’t think many of us think FIRE when we give a list of words beginning with F.  FAITHFUL and FORGIVING come quickly to mind, but not FIRE.  Yet in one short verse, we have a very distinct description of God.  He is a CONSUMING FIRE.

    Three questions come to mind as I look at this distinct description.  First, what does it mean that God is a consuming fire?  Two, why is it mentioned here?  Three, how does God being a consuming fire apply to my life?

    To answer the first question is to first know that this description comes from the OT, from Deuteronomy 4:24 which says, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”  Understanding God as a CONSUMING FIRE means He does not tolerate sinful disobedience and will deal with it severely.   As sin was abominable to God in the OT it is abominable to Him in the NT.  The believer is being warned here to not think that because of GRACE God takes a lower view of our sins.  The Apostle Paul dealt with this in Romans as he asked should we sin that grace may abound?  He answered himself with GOD FORBID!!! 

    From Hebrews 12:28 we are to serve God with profound reverence and unwavering fidelity.  Returning to the sinful lifestyle that we were saved out of is a betrayal to the SAVIOR.  We are called to live holy lives.  And in case we forget OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.  While it is correct to think of the fire of God as judgment, I do believe we need to be thinking of God’s fire here as for purifying.   

    As we get closer to a new year it might be a good prayer to pray to ask God to purify your soul.  Let us serve Him with a profound reverence that He is due and an unwavering devotion!

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 29 (12/29) is Hebrews 12:29. It says, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

    Continue Strong with a reverence for God
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 3 (12/3) is Hebrews 12:3

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 3 (12/3) is Hebrews 12:3
    Hebrews 12:3 says, For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
    EQUIPPED TO ENDURE

    As one moves from Hebrews 11 and the inspirational HALL OF FAITH the writer of Hebrews gets personal about believers RUNNING THEIR RACE.  If you did not know it God has a RACE He wants you to RUN!  As a reminder let’s read Hebrews 12:1-2.  It says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

    Having read about others who RAN THEIR RACE (HEBREWS 11) we are now called to RUN the RACE set before us.  The writer knows that he must be more than a motivational speaker here. The writer is now a COACH who is going to EQUIP the runner on HOW to RUN THEIR RACE.  He tells the runner to PREPARE to run by getting rid of the things that would HINDER them.  To run God’s race the runner is going to have to CONCENTRATE.  They cannot have the cares of this world weighing them down. To run God’s race the runner is going to have to be CONSECRATED.  The runner cannot be practicing sin for sin ENSNARES or TRAPS and TRIPS up the runner.  Practicing sin may bring about a DISQUALIFICATION.  (See 1 Cor. 9:27 and 2 Timothy 2:5) Then to run God’s race the RUNNER must have ENDURANCE.  The runner of God’s race is running to win, and winners never quit.  They have STAYABILITY!  They have tenacity and fortitude!  They are PERSISTENT and they PRESERVE.   Having ENDURANCE means there is within them a COMMITMENT to finishing!  

    One might look at the phrase “RUN WITH ENDURANCE” as more motivational than equipping. I will say that I don’t discount the need for motivational words, and I definitely do not discount encouraging words to the runner.  However, for us to run the difficult race before us in this world with all its hatred, hostility and persecution we need to be EQUIPPED to run.  So while being instructed (and maybe inspired) to run WITH ENDURANCE the verses that follow EQUIPS the runner with HOW TO RUN WITH ENDURANCE.   To run with endurance there must be the CONSIDERATION of CHRIST! Verse 2 says to endure one must “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Then our verse to DATE, verse 3, adds for being equipped to endure to “CONSIDER Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”

    It is one thing to tell a person to not quit or to not give up, it is another thing to equip a person so they will not quit or give up.  More than giving inspiration to run is the writer gives instruction on how to run.  The instructions are to LOOK AT JESUS.  SEE HIS EXAMPLE.  See how HE ENDURED in the face of hostility.  The instructions are to CONSIDER what JESUS did as He faced hostility.  We know that He did not quit but we must also know WHY He did not quit. 

    And why did He not quit? HE KNEW HIS PURPOSE!!  HE KNEW GOD’S PLAN!  He had PURPOSED from the very beginning to be about His Father’s business.  When push came to shove, He SURRENDERED completely in the garden of Gethsemane, saying NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE! He decided to be OBEDIENT to the Father’s purpose and plan for His life.  
    In being EQUIPPED TO ENDURE you look to Jesus and CONSIDER CHRIST and how He endure.  Draw more than inspiration from His enduring hostility.  Draw insights on why He NEVER QUIT.  If you don’t do so you are going to become weary and discouraged running your race.  This world is no friend of the committed Christian.  It will be hostile to you.  Jesus said if they hated Him, they are going to hate us.  Thus, get equipped to endure and then run with endurance!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 3 (12/3) is Hebrews 12:3. It says, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”

    With consideration of Christ, you KEEP ON RUNNING the RACE He has set before you!  

    Continue Strong looking to Jesus!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 29 (11/29) is Hebrews 11:29

    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 29 (11/29) is Hebrews 11:29
    Hebrews 11:29 says, “By faith THEY passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”
    THEY!!!!  

    Hebrews 11 is the HALL OF FAITH and obviously, it has the best of the best of men and women who BELIEVED GOD to do what HE SAID! It tells of ABEL and of NOAH! It tells of ABRAHAM, who is the father of faith.  It tells of SARAH and of ISSAC and of JACOB and of JOSEPH and of MOSES.  If the writer had the time he would have told of DAVID and DANIEL and ISAIAH and GIDEON for the OT is filled with individuals who BY FAITH.  However, as we look at Hebrews 11:29 we see a most unusual word in that the writer does not give a NAME but rather says, “THEY.”  

    I don’t know about you but seeing “they” caught me a little off guard.  I was not ready for “THEY.”  When I think of a Hall of Fame I think of individuals.  I think of an individual doing something spectacular.  Yet here we have THEY and we don’t know who THEY ARE.  What do know is WHAT THEY did as they PASSED through the RED SEA on dry land which was SPECTACULAR!

    To get the significance of “THEY” faith recall the story of Exodus 14.  THEY were coming out EGYPT, having been freed from brutal Egyptian slavery, and were now headed to the PROMISED Land.  As THEY followed Moses following God they were brought to what can only be called a DEAD END as they faced the Red Sea with high mountains on both sides and the Egyptian army coming after them in the rear.  At this DEAD END, God tells Moses to tell them (THEY) to MOVE FORWARD!  (Ex. 14:15).  Exodus 14:21 now tells us “Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; And the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22  So the children of Israel (THEY) went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”

    Wouldn’t you have loved to have a drone flying above with that birdseye view of “THEY” taking the first steps onto God’s solid and dry road through the sea?  Wouldn’t you have loved to see THEY’S faces as THEY walked with the WALLS of water on both sides?  Wouldn’t you have loved to see them taking one step after another?  THEY were putting spectacular faith on display!

    Martin Luther King, Jr said, ‘“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”  THEY took the first step and they keep walking even with walls of water on both sides!

    Are you a “THEY” with a ministry?  Churches need more than a pastor with FAITH.  It needs God’s people, the “THEY,” to have FAITH!  Churches need THEY who take that first step and MOVE FORWARD even when THEY can’t see the WHOLE staircase!  

    Maybe it is time for some of you to get off the bank and STEP OUT with the THEY of a church or a ministry and make something happen for the Lord.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 29 (11/29) is Hebrews 11:29. It says, “By faith THEY passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”

    Continue Strong being a THEY by faith in a church or ministry!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 27 (11/27) is Hebrews 11:27

    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 27 (11/27) is Hebrews 11:27
    Hebrews 11:27 says, “By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.“
    FAITH CONQUERS ALL FEARS

    This is one of my favorite statements in the Hall of Faith list as MOSES was not AFRAID of an earthly king (who happened to be one of the most powerful of all time at that time) because – BECAUSE – he had His eyes clearly set on God – described here as INVISIBLE!  Comparing the powerful earthly king to the ALL POWERFUL CREATOR of the universe caused Moses’ fear to disappear!! FAITH conquers FEAR!!!  Moses moves forward fearlessly by faith forsaking Egypt!  He endured or persevered, never looking back because by faith his eyes were fixed on the Invisible! 

    As we consider faith, specifically the faith of Moses, we conclude that faith sees the INVISIBLE hand of God.  Faith sees the INVISIBLE heart of God! FAITH SEES THE INVISIBLE WHO IS ABLE TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!!!

    FAITH SEES THE INVISIBLE WHO IS ABLE TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!!!

    Today I pray for you to see the INVISIBLE who is able to do the impossible with your life!

    May FAITH in GOD conquer all your fears about doing what God has for you!!! May you move forward fearlessly into the future God has for you, walking by FAITH, not sight! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 27 (11/27) is Hebrews 11:27.  It says, “By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

    What fears do you have that require FAITH in GOD to conquer?

    Continue Strong by FAITH!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22
    Hebrews 11:22 says,  “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”  
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22.  Hebrews 11:22 says,  “By faith Joseph when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.” 

    Joseph is the last of the 4 major characters of the book of Genesis.  We start with ABRAHAM. He is regarded as the FATHER OF FAITH.  Then we have ISSAC and then JACOB.  Starting in Genesis 30 we have the adventures of JOSEPH, adventures filled with adversities.  He would go from being his father’s favorite to being cruelly sold into slavery BY HIS BROTHERS.   While finding favor as a slave he is promoted to the overseer of Potiphar’s house in Egypt, yet he will be cruelly falsely accused of sexual assault by a very wicked and ungodly woman, known only as Potiphar’s wife. He was persecuted for his conviction to live PURE!  The decision of Joseph to live pure and the lie of Potiphar’s wife landed him in PRISON.  He finds favor in prison but is painfully FORGOTTEN.  God, though, had not forgotten him and at just the right moment Joseph is raised up to be the PRIME MINISTER of Egypt.  Having the ability to interpret dreams he is able to prepare Egypt for the coming famine.  This famine will then allow him to be reacquainted with his father, Jacob, and with his brothers.  What a story to read!

    With the quick summation of the life and times of Joseph we pause to ponder our verse for November 22 from Hebrews 11:22. Unlike the faith of Abraham or Issac or Jacob, Joseph’s faith was futuristic.  The faith he has is not for himself but for the children of Israel in later years.  He knew that one day THEY would return to the promised land and he wanted his bones to be buried in the promised land.  By faith, HE KNEW!!  He knew they would be returning one day!

    Please allow me to highlight one very important piece of information.  Many times it seems we believe Joseph’s last word in Genesis was his perspective on his life.  You might recall in Genesis 50:20 he had said to his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.  As great as that is it is not his last words. Hebrews 11:22 says when he was dying, he made mention of the departure, which is the end of Genesis 50.  In making mention of the departure, he was letting them know of his confidence, his faith, in God’s PROMISES.  And it was not just the promise to get them back to the promised land but that God would take care of them.  Notice Genesis 50:24 as Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

    Oh, friends, GOD WILL SURELY TAKE CARE OF YOU!!!   Until you get to your heavenly home hear this dying man’s last words.  GOD WILL SURELY TAKE OF YOU!

    The verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22. It says, “By faith, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.” 

    GOD WILL SURELY TAKE OF YOU!

    Continue Strong knowing of God’s great care for you!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD