The LORD Made It Prosper

When his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, saying, “This is the way your servant treated me,” he became enraged. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; he remained there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in the prison, and whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The chief jailer paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

Genesis 39:19-23

What if Joseph had slept with Potiphar’s wife? What if Abram had disobeyed when God told him to leave Ur and head for parts unknown. Both did the right thing. In our real lives, we face similar choices. Sometimes temptation gets right in front of us. When that happens, we can either run and reap God’s rewards, or we can give in and reap the sad consequences, and then make sorry excuses. Sometimes we sense that God is leading us in a particular direction. We can choose either to follow Him and trust His omniscience – or we can offer flimsy excuses and live a life of disobedience.

The abundant life of godliness is far better than a life of excuses and despair. Live life to the fullest, live it the way God meant you to live it.

God does not demand success – just obedience.

Our Daily Bread – December 12, 2005