The Second Sunday of Advent, December 4

JOSEPH: DREAM OR NIGHTMARE?

Genesis 37

I am nobody! Joseph, as the youngest son, was culturally nobody. Joseph was bound. Bound by a vision or dream (a dream in the original language of Scripture means "to bind firmly"). Bound as a sheaf (a sheaf in the original language means "something bound"). Bound and thrown into a pit by jealous and angry brothers, lacking spiritual vision and understanding. Bound in slavery in Potifer's house. Bound and cast into prison by lying tongues. Bound and kept in prison by ungrateful, forgetful recipients of Grace. But most of all, and through it all, bound by God's Will, bound by obedience, Bound by Love, and so, bound to fulfil God's purpose for his life to bring life and deliverance to others. Can't it be so for you and me? Let us also be bound to God, and so, to His people!

Joseph, in his famous dreams, had a vision of God, and of his own appointed place in God's orderly plan. Once the vision is seen, once the revelation is received, there can no longer be a continuing in his own ways, his own old pattern of living. Now there's a vision of God Himself and His perfect Will and Way, and the whole life must be given over to God to fully work out His awesome Plan. In receiving that supernatural vision, we also will lose sight of all else and live for His purpose alone—just as Joseph did. Joseph didn't figure out and choose his steps; he just humbly obeyed and glorified God where he was placed by Divine Order. Though the instruments of that Order often appeared cruel and evil, through perfect binding to God and His Plan and Order, Joseph remained in perfect peace and rest through what would otherwise seem like a terrible ordeal. Who could endure such a trial of faith? All of us can who are bound in obedient Love to King Jesus and His Church! "He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him because he trusts in Him." No trust in ourselves, no leaning on our own understanding, no standing by our talents and abilities, no working out the Vision of Divine purpose with our own plan, but coming to Christ alone for all equipping and perfecting of life and purpose!

Without absolute surrender to God; without an honest heart which proclaims through the whole life, "Not my will but thine be done;" without a full entering into God's plan and purpose in absolute trust, the dream will become a nightmare. When the vision we've received from God Himself is proclaimed, and then rejected or neglected by worldly hearts that cannot understand, then that precious dream can become the grief of our lives. The rejection, jealousy, hatred, apathy, and persecution that will inevitably come, is unbearable outside of the rest in His perfect Will and Purpose. To enter that rest and dwell in His Will and holiness, bind self, bind the old fleshly order and way of living, place all on the altar to be consumed by fire, and come to Him alone. Be bound by His righteous reign over your life. Leave the old life, the good and the bad, and enter the new life—the supernatural life—in Jesus Christ! To Him alone be all Glory, Honor, and Praise! Joyous Birthday!!!

~ Cindy Warren