Success - the process, the result

Driving the rural roads near my home, there are a couple of places where little crosses are set in the grass along the shoulder; memorials of a death.  A car ride to somewhere turned into an accident and a life ended.  Those little crosses remind me of another kind of wreck – of those who start a walk of faith with God, choosing His purposes. Then, they collide with difficulties; situations that many insist 'just cannot be part of God's plan,' and they let the situation overwhelm them.  Their walk with the Lord dies in the grip of bitter doubt.  This need not happen, but moving ahead demands courage.

Faith does not wipe away the problems of life. Loving God does not exempt us from disappointment.  Faith can (note the word) enlarge our vision so that we will trust God in the middle of the mess, as we pray for the experience to create in us a deeper obedience that reflect His beauty. But, some allow faith to ebb and they turn aside, give up, and attempt to create their own place of security and/or success.  They crash and quit.

Joseph, whose story is told in the first book in the Bible, received God’s promise and then endured two decades of endless disappointment before seeing the vision mature. "Dad, you;'ll never believe what I dreamt about my future.  God showed me that I will be greater even than you."   With those words, Joseph shared his dreams and earned the contempt of his brothers.  Months later, they sold him to slave traders headed for Egypt.  They were probably thinking, "Take that, dreamer boy.  Now let's see you become great."    

In Egypt,  Joseph's skill and integrity showed through and he soon became the manager of a rich man's household.   A short time later, when he refused the proposition of Potiphar’s wife, she falsely accused him of attempted rape, and he spent years in prison.   But God... was using each turn, each 'tragedy' to produce success!  Each disappointment was another mile along the road to the realization of the promise.  By faith, Joseph remained steady, and became the Prime Minister of Egypt.  His position allowed him, in the plan of God, to provide a safe home for his family in time of famine.   Because his story is told on a few pages of the Bible, we can lose sight of the agonizing nights of doubt, the days of despair that must have come his way.

Joseph's success did not begin the moment he took a seat next to Pharaoh!   He was successful when he trusted God while being taken into slavery, when he refused the advances of his master's wife, when he chose to be a model prisoner, when endured darkness, hoping for the light to break through.

God has a plan for your life!   He prepares circumstances that equip you with experience, situations that develop your character, and brings people into your path that move you towards that purpose.  The Scripture assures us that "we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son." (Romans 8:28-29, The Message)  The Bible promises us that God is always working in us and around us to accomplish His purposes.  The question- are we working with HIM?

We have a responsibility to exercise faith in our daily decisions that allows us to receive the promises of God.  In the days of disappointment we are told "... do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."  (Hebrews 10:35-36, NLT)  "... let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)  Don’t quit! Don’t detour into sin!  Stay steady.

Are you in a season of reward?  Praise God.   
Are you in a season of testing?  Pray for faith, vision, and courage.

Remember this, success is not just found in the outcome.  Success is also in the process.   The success of the second half of Joseph's life, when he was exercising power, riding in the royal chariot, and living in the palace is obvious.  But, Joseph was living a successful life long before that, in Potiphar's house, in prison - in the steady faith that caused him to make the right decisions, instead of the convenient choice.

Here's a word from the Word.  Meditate on it today and then live successfully!
"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun." 
(Psalm 37:3-6, NLT)

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Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

You call me out upon the waters,

The great unknown where feet may fail;

And there I find You in the mystery,

In oceans deep, my faith will stand.

And I will call upon Your name,

And keep my eyes above the waves,

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in Your embrace,

For I am Yours, and You are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters,

Your sov'reign hand will be my guide.

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me,

You've never failed and You won't start now.

Oh and You are mine.

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders,

Let me walk upon the waters,

Wherever You would call me.

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander,

And my faith will be made stronger,

In the presence of my Savior.

I will call upon Your name.

Keep my eyes above the waves.

My soul will rest in Your embrace,

I am Yours and You are mine!

Joel Houston | Matt Crocker | Salomon Ligthelm

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Jerry D. Scott, Pastor

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