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Genesis 44; Psalm 22; Matthew 25:31-46

Joseph, being seventeen years old. Genesis 37:2
And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Genesis 41:46

God invested 13 years in making a man out of Joseph. One writer has said, “When it comes to building character, God is never in a hurry”. God’s desire is that we might be conformed to the image of His son (Rom. 8:29). As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our life, he will help us to “grow in grace, and knowledge of our Lord” (2 Pet. 3:18). We wait on God to make us the man or woman He wants us to be. —Bob Cretney

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His Holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me. —E.E. Hewitt

Genesis 43; Psalms 20 to 21; Matthew 25:1-30

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Many things are made with “planned obsolescence”: they are disposable and only last for a short time. This world in its present form is impermanent; yet so many live as if it is of ultimate value. Thankfully, God will never dispose of those who are saved by faith in Christ. Despite our weakness and life’s varied trials, He will not fail to complete the work of conforming every believer to Christ’s glorious image (Rom. 8:18-39). Neither earthly nor spiritual powers will thwart His work in His people. —Keith R. Keyser

Each object of His love is sure to reach the heavenly goal;
For neither sin nor Satan can destroy the blood-wash’d soul.
—Albert Midlane

Genesis 41:50 to 42:38; Psalm 19; Matthew 24:29-51

Behold, I have taken out of thine hand…the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it. Isaiah 51:22

Israel had once again angered God by their wicked ways, causing Him to unleash the fury of His wrath upon them. But because He is a God who pardons iniquity and delights in mercy (Micah 7:18), He removed the cup of His fury from their hand. How reminiscent of what Jesus did for us by drinking the cup of God’s fury in our place, thus appeasing His righteous anger against sin. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we no longer need to dread God’s fury, but can bask in His mercy and love. —E. V.

Death and the curse were in our cup,
O Christ ‘twas full for Thee!
That bitter cup- love drank it up;
Left but the love for me. —A. R. Cousin

Genesis 41:1-49; Psalm 18:30-50; Matthew 24:1-28

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus… John 3:1

Nicodemus had it all! He was religious—Jesus even called him “the teacher” (literal) of Israel. He had power as a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of the day. He obviously had money. To anoint the dead body of Jesus, he purchased as many spices as would have been used for a king’s burial. And talk about heritage! He was born into Abraham’s family line, the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. Yet none of these things brought Nicodemus one step closer to Heaven. Listen to the simple invitation Jesus offered him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). What are you depending on to get to Heaven? Your resumé or God’s grace? —Brian Cretney

Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase, Thou must save, and save by grace.—A. Toplady

Genesis 40; Psalm 18:1-29; Matthew 23

And he (Micah) said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? Judges 18:24

When the five Danite spies removed Micah’s idolatrous devotions, they left nothing better to replace them. A principle of physics is that nature abhors a vacuum. As we seek to win others for Christ, we must always emphasize repentance before reformation. Once a person is saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, there will be no void left behind as they forget those things which are behind, and reach forth for the prize of the much higher calling in Christ Jesus. —Rick Morse

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
—Elisha A. Hoffman

Genesis 39; Psalm 17; Matthew 22:15-46

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Paul reminds Timothy that God has given him all that he needs to face life’s fears. When we are confronted with a trial or tribulation, we start to fear. We fear man, loss, pain and sorrow. We can focus so much on the fear that we forget God has already given us the tools for victory—power, love, and a sound mind. No matter what we go through, God is with us. We don’t have to look to ourselves to fix fear. Instead we look to God who gives us His strength. —Caleb Riordan

Holy Spirit all divine,
Dwell within this heart of mine;
Cast down every idol throne,
Reign supreme, and reign alone. —Andrew Reed

Genesis 38:1-30; Psalms 15:1-16:11; Matthew 21:33-22:14

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Philippians 1:29

Did you realize that suffering for Christ is a gracious gift? That God is favouring us by allowing us to feel what He felt? We may not enjoy suffering, but it is not a bad thing. Christ is our example. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). God is teaching us through our suffering for Him. Are we learning obedience? —Warren Hagey

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.  —John H. Sammis

Genesis 37:1-36; Psalms 11:1-14:7; Matthew 21:1-32

Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh? Exodus 3:11
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. Jeremiah 1:6

How many responsibilities and opportunities have some of us failed to carry out because we decided we were not up to the task? God says that it is not up to us to decide. In Moses’ case God’s reply was, “Certainly I will be with thee” (Ex. 3:12). In Jeremiah’s situation God said, “Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jer. 1:9). If He opens a door for us; it is not our job to decide if we can succeed. We must simply press on and trust Him to give us grace to finish the race. —Ken Gross

O Master, when Thou callest, no voice may say Thee nay,
For blessed are they that follow where Thou dost lead the way.  —S. Stock

Genesis 36:1-43; Psalms 9:1-10:18; Matthew 20:17-34

For the joy that was set before him endured the cross. Hebrews 12:2

Our Lord Jesus looked beyond His present moment of pain and crucifixion. He looked ahead to the joy that was to be His at the end of His pain and suffering. He knew that His Father had a good and eternal purpose in it all. We need to see things similarly in our own lives. It has been said, “Never judge a tragedy at the moment it is happening”. Our loving Father has a purpose, and we need to trust Him. It is through a daily disciplined life that we develop a
lifestyle of triumph. —Eleanor Isaacson

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of all before the judgment seat;
O be swift, my soul, to answer Him; O be jubilant my feet!
Our God is marching on. — Julia Ward Howe

Genesis 35:1-29; Psalms 7:1-8:9; Matthew 19:16-20:16

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:13
The Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. Revelation 19:7-8

Here we behold our Saviour, clothed with blood-stained garments. Here, also, we see ourselves, His church, His bride, clothed with “fine linen, clean and white”! By His death on the cross for our sins, He has cast away the “filthy rags” and dressed us with His own “robe of righteousness” (Isa. 61:10). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:7). What a wonderful Saviour! —Elizabeth C. Bishop

All these once were sinners, defiled in His sight,
Now arrayed in pure garments in praise they unite! —A.T. Pierson