"The circumstances of life, the events of life, and the people around me in life, do not make me the way I am, but reveal the way I am" [Dr. Sam Peeples].
While surfing the Internet (the only surfing I can do these days) I came upon this insightful quote. While in college studying education we often debated the nature vs nurture issue. The same issue explored in the hilarious movie "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd.
After living 52 years and watching my children and thousands of children and young adults grow I believe that while both will have an effect on the way we act and perceive the world around us, nurture is more temporary and nature is more permanent in our psyche.
I was reading Hebrews 11 yesterday and saw something that was very interesting to me. While Hebrews mentions Joseph as a man of great faith, it does not credit him for what I thought was his major acts of faith! After being sold into slavery by his brothers. Lied about and condemned for an adulterous act he did not commit. Being falsely thrown into jail and even demoted to the worst part of the jail. Not receiving credit for the things he was doing and watching others get his rewards. When given the opportunity, he forgives and blesses those that cursed and abused him! What great faith!
But the writer of Hebrews states in verse 22, "By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones." That is the only testament of faith given Joseph here. What is God trying to show us here? I believe that God is showing us that we all need to know who we are and where we come from. Joseph was given a dream before all of these things began happening to him. God had given him an eternal destiny at birth and was revealing it to him as his life unfolded so that in his old age he teaches his sons this principle by commanding his bones to be buried with his ancestors. Identity. Who are you? Where did you come from? Who's you're daddy?
Well, if I go way back to the garden, I am Adam's son. But if I look at the whole counsel of the Word of God, I was with God in Christ before I was born and I was destined to be redeemed by my older brother Jesus whom I am now free to identify with through His virgin birth, death and resurrection from the dead. Galatians 2:20 says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Romans states, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Paul writes in Colossians chapter 1 says, "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven. Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Col 1:12-23). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
My last verse is Galatians 4:6, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Let's stop blaming our circumstances, situations and those around us for our "perceived problems". Let's identify with our spiritual nature in Christ and know that all these things are working together for our good and revealing our GREAT NEED FOR A SAVIOR, REDEEMER and OUR FATHER, GOD!
Grace and Peace,
Ed
PS. I use LOGOS BIBLE SOFTWARE. If you'd like to order LOGOS SOFTWARE at a 25% discount, write me at Rjonodde@aol.com.
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