Romans 15:30 - Join in the struggle

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

I have always wanted to do amazing things for Christ: be a missionary, write a book, be a speaker, etc... but so far those things have not worked out. I serve God everyday in many small ways and occasionally I get a "bigger opportunity" to serve, but generally I don't feel like my service is anything special. The verse above lets me know I can always participate in those "bigger opportunities" by finding someone who is doing them and join in their struggle by praying for them. We can do this anonymously or let them know we feel like God has called us to pray for their ministry. It will be a great encouragement to them!

Lord, thank you for every opportunity to serve, be it large or small. Please help us to look for the places you are working and join in your work. Amen.

Genesis 47:18 - Giving it all

When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.

I didn't remember this part of the story of Joseph. Joseph essentially puts all the people of Egypt into servitude, making Pharaoh even richer because of the famine. But, without Joseph's oversight, most of the people would have probably died.  The thing I like about this verse is how everything is given to Joseph/Pharaoh, just like everything we have is to be given to God: our money, possessions, our means to make a living, even our bodies. It all belongs to God. He has saved us, just like in verse 25 the people say “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”

Lord, Thank you for saving our lives. May we find favor in the eyes of our Lord; we are in bondage to you. Amen.