TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
Please read Genesis 39:1–23
So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.
Genesis 39:6–10
DEVOTIONAL
by Irene Tanhuanco
Did Joseph exude a special charisma that instantly charmed those around him, or was something—or someone—else at work? Being an enslaved person in an elite Egyptian household or a prison warden’s trusted inmate could not have been on Joseph’s list of dream jobs. In fact, his dreams even involved having his brothers bow down to him.
Joseph could have grumbled and complained through all those “jobs” he neither signed up for nor deserved. Yet, he chose to work with integrity and shun temptation because God was with him.
Notice the cycle: Joseph gave his best, knowing God was with him. God then caused Joseph to succeed in everything he did and earn his superiors’ favor. The importance of these four words, “God was with him,” could not be stressed enough as it was repeated four times in this chapter (vv. 2, 3, 21, 23).
Our human strength and willpower will not be enough to sustain our desire to give and be our best at everything consistently, but we remember that God is with us and will enable us. He’s holding our hand through every struggle, every victory, and every defeat. According to Charles Stanley, “If you are giving your best at work and are trusting God to give you wisdom in all your endeavors, then watch for the ways in which the Lord will cause others to bless you.”
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we are inspired by Joseph’s example, where he worked with integrity, knowing that You were with him. Help us remember that Your presence empowers us in our daily challenges. We trust that as we give our best, You will bless and guide us according to Your will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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