December 1, 2022 – Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass.  Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.  The ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke.  Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk  Then seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them.  The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream.  In the morning his spirit was troubled; so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my faults today.  Once Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me and the chief baker in custody…  We dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own meaning.  A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each according to his dream.”   Genesis 41:1-14

After two whole years…  This is how the Genesis text begins this day, chapter 41, verse 1. For two years Joseph sat in the prison, waiting for something to happen. Joseph had interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. He asked the cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh, but it did not come to pass.  And so he waited, and waited, and waited. How often do we feel like Joseph, waiting for something good to happen? How often do we feel like we are waiting for a new job opportunity – waiting for a new relationship – waiting for a change, any change at all? We often feel like we are in prison, the prison of doubt and despair, indecision and indifference, loss and sadness. But, G-d is reminding Joseph that patient waiting bears out future opportunities — the opportunity to serve and to be exactly where G-d needs him for the greater good of all people. What we learn from the story of Joseph is that G-d’s timeline is usually not our timeline. Where we hope to have our prayers answered now, we often find there is a process for which G-d is working and planning in G-d’s mysterious ways and timeline. Joseph waited two whole years for his chance to get out of a prison he neither deserved nor anticipated.

My friends, G-d does not abandon G-d’s people nor does G-d forget about us. In time, G-d will resolve all things, but G-d will not resolve “each” thing. In other words G-d is preparing us to remember that just because we have faith does not mean that we will then never experience loss, struggles, pain or suffering. Because we are human, we all will experience both the seasons of plenty and want, times of fruitlessness and times of fruitfulness, and both the good and the bad.  But G-d will not allow the devil to win the day because G-d ultimately brings all things to completion through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray, Dear G-d, no matter how good or how bad things are help me to trust your wisdom as I continue to prepare for the coming of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Dave 

December 2, 2022 – Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come.  Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’  But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them.  The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.  Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy.  Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’  Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe,  and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 21:1-14

Did you ever have the dream where you showed up for some important event, but were not dressed properly?  While I was in the Blue Band, I used to have the dream that I could not find my band uniform and it was time to leave for the football game. It was always troubling that I could not find what I needed – and I knew that I could not go to the game without being prepared and dressed properly.

In the parable of the Wedding Banquet, many are invited but none of them want to come. A huge feast had been prepared but no one held to its worthiness. Finally, the king gathers anyone that his slaves can find and they are brought to the banquet – but one man is not prepared properly. We might say, “Well this is unfair, because he was hastily brought to the banquet without time to prepare.”  But, the parable seems to tell us that we need to always be prepared, because we never know when our invitation will come. Jesus is warning us to start our preparations now – for the great heavenly feast could be upon us at any moment. 

Let us pray: Dear G-d we know we can’t wait until the last minute to prepare – by then it will be too late.  Help me today to begin my preparations now because we have already received our invitation – for Jesus says, “Knock, and the door will be opened unto you.” Amen

Pastor Dave