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Scripture for the day: Genesis 50:19-20 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 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.
Thought for the day: Most of us know the story, don’t we? Joseph, the seemingly self-centered young boy with the brilliant coat and the blessings of his father, has been sold into slavery by his brothers. He’s spent the past several years in Egypt, sometimes living a life of luxury in the palatial home of Potiphar, sometimes languishing in the dank and disease-ridden prisons of Pharaoh, but always a slave. By the time we read this verse the Lord has elevated Joseph to the number two position in all Egypt, with the power of life and death over any he would care to condemn or elevate. Then come his brothers, fearful for their lives lest he kill them all in retribution for their earlier treachery.
Think of the life journey of Joseph for a moment. Would you say he collected a few pebbles in his sandals along the way? Actually, many of the things he faced would be considered great boulders of adversity rather than pebbles, but that’s another theme for another time. The point is, he carried these things throughout his lifetime and, in the midst of them, had the same trouble as you or I might in understanding why they were necessary to collect and carry all that time.
One night a group of nomads were preparing to retire for the evening when suddenly they were surrounded by a great light. They knew they were in the presence of a celestial being. With great anticipation, they awaited a heavenly message of great importance that they knew must be especially for them. Finally, the voice spoke, "Gather as many pebbles as you can. Put them in your saddle bags. Travel a day's journey and tomorrow night will find you glad and it will find you sad."
After the heavenly vision departed, the nomads shared their disappointment and anger with each other. They had expected the revelation of a great universal truth that would enable them to create wealth, health and purpose for the world. But instead, they were given a menial task that made no sense to them at all. Collect as many pebbles as possible? What kind of divine revelation was that? However, the memory of the brilliance of their visitor caused each one to pick up a few pebbles and deposit them in their saddle bags while voicing their displeasure.
They traveled a day's journey and that night while making camp, they reached into their saddle bags and discovered every pebble they had gathered had become a diamond. They were glad they had diamonds. They were sad they had not gathered more pebbles.
Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” To paraphrase just a bit: “blessed are you when you pick up another pebble or two because people make fun of you and genuinely hate you because you’re a Christian. Put that in your saddlebag; you’ll be glad for it at the end of the day.” Again, He said, “In this world you will have trouble (pebbles), but fear not for I have overcome the world.”
James said, “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter pebbles of many kinds, for you know that those pebbles will make you strong and increase your faith.” (my paraphrase)
How many pebbles are in your saddlebags? How many have you accumulated so far, whether they’ve come because someone else put them there or you’ve accumulated them by simply following the directions of the Lord? Remember as you journey through the day, those seemingly insignificant, even irritating, pebbles will all be diamonds someday.
Now go take on your world. - Bill