In everyday life we meet friends and strangers. Some we remember and many we don’t. But God never brings us into contact with someone accidentally or for no reason. Unless we are sensitive to God’s purposes, we may take our meetings with strangers or our work with colleagues lightly even without realizing why God brought them into our lives. Our thought for reflection this morning is, “Our God always brings people into our lives for specific reasons.”
“Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them” (Genesis 40:2-4).
It is quite clear that it was only under God’s providence and His plan that Pharoah’s two key officials were put in custody in the same prison where Joseph was confined. It was also under God’s providence that both of them had dreams for which they did know the meaning. Thus God had acted with a foresight when He put Joseph and Pharoah’s officials in the same prison.
1. God had already planned to keep Joseph as a blessing to Pharoah’s officials.
Encounter or contact with anyone in life is never to be taken for granted or as an accident. Joseph who had always enjoyed success in his life due to God’s presence, knew that God would never bring anyone into his life for no reason. Thus he did not take his meeting with Pharoah’s two officials in the prison as an accident. The Bible says, “The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them” (Genesis 40:4). Do we often forget God’s divine purposes of giving us a job in a particular company or place? Do we often forget that God’s desire always is to keep us a blessing to our colleagues and co-workers?
2. God had already planned to promote Joseph by using one of the officials.
Knowing very well that God would have definitely had a purpose in bringing the chief cupbearer and the chief baker into his life, Joseph said to the chief cupbearer, “But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharoah and get me out of this prison” (Genesis 40:14). Do we often forget the fact that God could use others to bless us or promote us in life?
Just as Joseph interacted with Pharoah’s officials cheerfully and attentively in the prison, realizing God’s purposes, we are also called to be a blessing and to serve our colleagues cheerfully at our work places?
Prayer:
“Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me this morning that you have kept me wherever I am now with a purpose. Thanks for those whom you have given me as colleagues and co-workers to work with. I may not understand why you have brought them into my life but help me to be a blessing to them. Just as Joseph was a blessing to Pharoah’s officials in the prison, keep me as a blessing to everyone with whom I live, work and serve throughout this day.
In Jesus’ name,... Amen!”
Blessed day!