ICS Daily Devotions
The Key to Have a Successful and Fulfilled Life
All of us need a dream and a vision in life to keep us going. More often than not, the dream is bigger than we are, or seems impossible to fulfill. We may not even have any idea how it is going to happen. Life is a journey with obstacles along the way. The challenge for us is how to overcome these obstacles without ending up discouraged. One of the keys to having a successful and fulfilled life is being faithful to God.
Genesis 37:3-10 tells a story of how Joseph had a dream that he would be greater than his elder brothers and his father. However, Joseph was sold as a slave in Egypt. He could have become discouraged and bitter towards God and blamed God for his calamity, but he did not. He remembered the dream of his youth and knew the day would still come when his father and his brothers would bow down to him.
Genesis 39:1-2 (NKJV) “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”
Just when all seemed lost and hopeless, Joseph was bought by Potiphar, the chief of staff of the Pharaoh’s army. Joseph learnt the Egyptian language and soon rose by the grace of God to being the chief servant in Potiphar’s house. Because Joseph served God with integrity, Potiphar learnt that he could trust him. Potiphar then gave Joseph his second coat, the coat of human authority.
Nothing in the world can hold you down if you trust God, walk in integrity and work hard.
Luke 16:10-13 (NKJV) “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
In life, there are ups and downs. Later, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph and he was put in prison. Once again, Joseph found himself in a pit facing possible death, where he could have given up and blamed God for his plight. However, the real strength of Joseph’s character was his refusal to give up on God, even in the worst of circumstances. In prison, Joseph became the model prisoner and had tremendous favour.
Deuteronomy 29:9 (NKJV) “Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.”
Joseph eventually got out of jail miraculously and became the second most powerful man in the land besides the Pharaoh.
God had worked such a transformation in Joseph’s heart that all bitterness, self-pity and desire for revenge were gone. If Joseph had disliked his father and brothers or refused to forgive Potiphar and his wife, he would have lost God’s favour and would never have received His blessings.
Joseph ended his life on target, fulfilling the vision of his youth because he always kept his eyes on God and His promises even during those bad times when it looked like God and men had forsaken him., He allowed God to work on him, transforming him into a vessel He could use for His glory on earth. Often when we think it is the end, God is just beginning. Even when you are a “nobody”, Jesus can bless and use you, if you keep the right spirit, love and care for others and stay faithful and humble before God.
Sermon Series: Grace for Life
