Week 9, Day 5

_{Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
(1 Peter 4:10-11)}

The world is a broken place. We see this reality magnified through Joseph’s life. Joseph’s family experienced all kinds of dysfunction, favoritism, unfaithfulness, and famine. Where was God? How do these events display God’s glory?

In painful moments, the enemy whispers a lie, “If God really cared about you, He would not allow this to happen to you.” However, Joseph recognized that in the midst of all of it, God was with him. Looking back on the story, we can see that God was at work in the saving of many lives. He was also sustaining the family of Israel so they would accomplish His purpose in the future. Ultimately, Jesus would come from the family of Israel.

The story of Joseph and story after story in the Bible, teach us that even when we are unable to understand, God is at work for His glory and for the good of His people. God is good and we can trust Him! In the central story of the Bible, we see the worst evil ever in the crucifixion of Christ, but behind this terrible suffering is the greatest good. In Jesus, we see the glory of God on full display!

Joseph lived with integrity in the midst of much temptation and brokenness because he knew that God was with him. Joseph glorified God. Even now in our world, the Lord is at work to fulfill all of His good purposes. God is calling for those who will trust Him despite the circumstances and live faithfully for His glory. So how do we glorify God? We glorify God by loving, trusting, and obeying Him.

At the end, “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas” (Habakkuk 2:14). He is calling for his people to spread His glory. We glorify God when our lives and choices show that God is greater, more valuable, and more worthy of devotion than anyone or anything else. We show this to our families, our neighbors, and our community by how we think, love, and live in the everyday activities of our lives. We want to be a people who are living for the praise of His glory. There is no one like our God! He is worthy of our wholehearted devotion. Let’s live for the glory of God!

• Is there any part of your life that you need to surrender so that you can be wholehearted in your love for the Lord?

• Does your current attitude reflect a desire to live all of life for the glory of God?

• Do your words and actions consistently bring glory to God?

• Do the rhythms and activities of your day reflect the reality that all of life is for the glory of God?