Peter

I was reading about Peter a few weeks ago. I found myself reading and re-reading those first five chapters in Acts.  We always hear of his 'failures' .... cutting off the soldier's ear, denying Jesus and sometimes even him taking his eyes off Jesus when he walked on the water.  As far as the last one goes, he DID walk ON the water.

You don't see that side of Peter here in Acts.  You see a man who has stepped into his calling.  He takes the stand for finding a God appointed replacement for Judas.  He was in the upper room on the day of Pentecost and told the mockers, 'these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but he third hour of the day.  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' (Acts 2:15-21) 
He goes walking with John into the temple and a lame man at the gate called out to them asking for money and Peter says, 'That's right look over here.  Look at us!' (my version)  And then replies, 'Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.' (Acts 3:6)  He is boldly preaching. He confronts Ananias and Sapphira when they lie about how much their land sold for and then God's judgment fell. A Godly boldness and determination came to Peter.   Acts 5:12-16 talks about signs and wonders done by the hands of the apostles.  Verse 15 says, 'Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.'  That is just some of Peter's story, you can read more.
I LOVE seeing what God made of Peter.  You can see through the scripture how God molded him into a vessel of honor.  Your life is only about your failures if you choose to stay in the failure.  If we will go God's way and allow God full control, He will do the same with our lives.  This life isn't as much about us as most of us would like .... it's about fulfilling God's will.  It's preparation for eternal life.

‎'Boldness is not reckless impulsiveness. Boldness requires courage to press on through our fears and do what we know is right.' -Life Application Study Bible

~Joseph~

When reading about Joseph this time around, I was amazed at his attitude. His life story talks about him and his brothers and how he was his father's favorite.  We have all read or heard in Sunday School about how he told his brothers about his dreams where they were bowing down to him.  This had to of infuriated his brothers because some of them wanted him dead.  Reuben talked them into throwing him in a pit without killing him and then Judah talked them into selling him as a slave to the Egyptians.  After he was sold into slavery the brothers went back and left their father thinking Joseph was dead.  There is no record of them trying to find him or even wondering what happened to him.

Joseph had favor with God.  Potiphar saw that he was favored of the Lord and appointed him keeper of his house and Potiphar was blessed because of he was good to Joseph.  He blessed God's anointed and in return was blessed.  Some time passed and Potiphar's wife had tried and tried to entice Joseph and when he would not let her have her way, she lied and Joseph was thrown in prison.  While in prison he gained favor with the keeper of the jail.  He also interpreted a dream for the butler and the baker of Pharaoh's house that had been thrown in prison for offending Pharaoh.  He was right on with the interpretation, the butler was restored to the kings house and the baker was put to death.  He asked the baker to remember him when he was restored and wanted him to put a good word in for him, but the baker didn't at that time.

Joseph was still in prison and Pharaoh had a dream. No one in Pharaoh's house could interpret the dream and then the baker remembered Joseph.  Joseph was then brought to Pharaoh and God gave him the meaning of his dream.  There would be  seven years of plenty and seven years of famine.  God then gave Joseph the knowledge to sustain them through the years of famine.  It not only sustained Egypt, but also saved his family.  The same ones who wanted nothing to do with Joseph.

This is where it gets me.  Obviously, Joseph was not handed the best of circumstances in his life.  He was rejected and let down time and time again. Part of his family didn't want him and could care less if he were dead or alive.  Then a crazy old man hungry woman had him thrown in jail.  He wasn't just there overnight either.  The baker didn't give him a second thought when he was restored to his position.  He was done wrong.  To all appearances he had every right to be mad and would have been very well justified in ill feelings or in feeling offended, mad, angry, wanting vengeance ... you name it.  It wouldn't have been without cause.  But if you will notice his response to his brothers when they come to Egypt for food during the famine.

Genesis 45:5,7 & 8

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God; and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 50:20

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day to save much people alive.  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones, And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

He tells them to forget about it before they ever try to apologize.  And what I see in both places, he doesn't even think there is any need for them to apologize. It wasn't something where he exalted himself  saying, 'Look at me.  Look at who I was able to forgive.'  or 'I did it because God told me I had to.'  He doesn't want them to have regret and he isn't looking for an apology. It seems like in his mind there isn't anything to forgive.  That's a God thing right there!!  Oh, I want to get to that place.  Not that I am putting on a front of not being offended, but to truly not feel the offense.  God doesn't love Joseph more than he loves me or you.  We can get there too.

Joseph named his boys Manasseh (God hath made me forget my toil and all my father's house) and Ephraim (God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction).  It may have been a process for Joseph to get there too.  BUT with God doing the work, it will be done to perfection.  I love it!!  I love it!!

My last thought is a quote from John Bevere, 'Absolutely no man, woman, child, or devil can ever get you out of the will of God!  No one but God holds your destiny... no mortal man or devil can supersede the plan of God for your life.  If you lay hold of this truth, it will set you free.  But there is only one person who can get you out of the will of God, and that is you!'



Joseph's history starts in Genesis 37 and goes through the 50th chapter.  Go read it... see what you get from it!