Suffering
Serving in two churches on Sunday, January 20, 2008, the theme in both was similar: Suffering. This topic is not necessarily a popular subject, but it seemed to strike a chord with people in both meetings. The first meeting was at the great O Utca Brethren Church in Budapest. This church has a storied history and the founders suffered much during the communist years to insure that this church would have an existence. I focused on Psalms 105 where the writer referred to the suffering of Joseph who was sent ahead to be prepared for leadership in Egypt. The shackles bruised his ankles and wrists and the chain from the shackle around his neck connecting to the shackles at his feet was short making him stoop. 13 years of such suffering for false charges is Leadership Preparation at a graduate level! Not many would come out of this without a hint of a desire to seek revenge, but this was Joseph.
When Joseph became the "prime minister" and had his brothers in front of him he could have crushed them. Instead, he uttered an amazing statement, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good that many people would be saved." His brothers had literally sold Joseph into human slavery! Talk about a dysfunctional family! Somehow Joseph saw beyond his present problems while he was in prison and saw the bigger picture. God used this man to save the Israelites from starvation during a horrible famine. Joseph was humbled by the chains of his incarceration and became God's man for a unique time in history.
There are many Josephs in the world today either being prepared for service or serving because God has already prepared them for such a time as this. Present day examples range from the tribal warfare in Kenya to the Taliban abusing church planters in Pakistan or the Hindus burning churches in India . . . all happening at the present time.
Yes, I am impressed by the life of Joseph!
The evening meeting was at the Reformed Church [Presbyterian] here in the town where we live, Biatorbagy. It was the beginning of the national prayer week. I spoke from Luke 18 about the widow who appealed to the wicked judge for a ruling only to be rebuffed again and again. Finally, he gave her a ruling to help her after she repeatedly came to him so as to get rid of her. She suffered greatly, but, finally received help. Jesus used this to teach us how to pray during our suffering. Pray day and night, keep praying! Eventually, there will be an answer.
It was a great day! Oh yes, we had lunch in the home of some young people whom we have known since they were children. Their parents were not at home as they were away celebrating their wedding anniversary. Still, the three children [one of them married], early 20s and one a teenager, invited us for a meal. The youngest daughter prepared a delicious meal and we all had a great time of fellowship. Before we left we had prayer together with all six of us praying one by one. That was special! No, that was not a time of suffering, rather, it was a time of joy!
Eric
When Joseph became the "prime minister" and had his brothers in front of him he could have crushed them. Instead, he uttered an amazing statement, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good that many people would be saved." His brothers had literally sold Joseph into human slavery! Talk about a dysfunctional family! Somehow Joseph saw beyond his present problems while he was in prison and saw the bigger picture. God used this man to save the Israelites from starvation during a horrible famine. Joseph was humbled by the chains of his incarceration and became God's man for a unique time in history.
There are many Josephs in the world today either being prepared for service or serving because God has already prepared them for such a time as this. Present day examples range from the tribal warfare in Kenya to the Taliban abusing church planters in Pakistan or the Hindus burning churches in India . . . all happening at the present time.
Yes, I am impressed by the life of Joseph!
The evening meeting was at the Reformed Church [Presbyterian] here in the town where we live, Biatorbagy. It was the beginning of the national prayer week. I spoke from Luke 18 about the widow who appealed to the wicked judge for a ruling only to be rebuffed again and again. Finally, he gave her a ruling to help her after she repeatedly came to him so as to get rid of her. She suffered greatly, but, finally received help. Jesus used this to teach us how to pray during our suffering. Pray day and night, keep praying! Eventually, there will be an answer.
It was a great day! Oh yes, we had lunch in the home of some young people whom we have known since they were children. Their parents were not at home as they were away celebrating their wedding anniversary. Still, the three children [one of them married], early 20s and one a teenager, invited us for a meal. The youngest daughter prepared a delicious meal and we all had a great time of fellowship. Before we left we had prayer together with all six of us praying one by one. That was special! No, that was not a time of suffering, rather, it was a time of joy!
Eric
posted by Eric Murphy at 21.1.08
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