January 2, 2002
Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel. Genesis 49:22-24 (NIV)
We can be like branches that climb over a wall. What a thought.
We can be like Joseph. Our
branches can climb over any wall that gets in the way.
Why is this? We serve the
Mighty One of Jacob, the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.
How do we know this? Jesus
himself told us. He calls himself
the good shepherd (John 10:11). Jesus
is the Rock (Romans 9:33). These
are all one and the same. For those
of us who have begun the journey of following the Rock of Salvation, Jesus, we
can stand on this promise. No
matter what attacks the enemy sends, we can remain steady and strong.
When adversity comes, and it shall, we can rest in the vine, the true
vine. He is what allows our
branches to climb over the wall that adversity brings.
What walls are in your life?
I know that you have them. Are
your walls broken relationships? Are
your walls lost dreams? Are your
walls things of sin that you cannot seem to shake?
What are your walls? With
the help of the Rock of Israel who is Jesus, you shall overcome those walls. Who are the archers in your life? Who are they who seek to destroy you? Who comes after you with hostility? Jesus knows who the enemy is.
He is the good shepherd. Listen
to his voice. Know what he says and
listen closely. Feel his hands upon
you as he steadies you. He will
never lead you astray. Jesus is the
Rock from which you are cut, those who pursue righteousness and seek his face.
Jesus, the perfect one, the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
Jesus, the one who leads you to victory, is the rock on which you stand.
When you have done all you can just stand on the Rock.
Father, help me to stand on the Rock of Jesus. Lord, be not a stumbling block to me, but rather a stepping stone. Father, let me seek your face in all that I do. Lord, let me embrace hardship as discipline. Father, help my arm to remain steady and my aim to be true. Father, you give me all that I need to have to be true to you. Lord, for the sake of your name teach me to walk in faith and not by sight. Help me to truly realize that you do have all things under control and that nothing happens in my life without purpose. Father, help me to hasten to learn the lessons that you long for me to learn. Make me pure and holy in Jesus name, amen.
All rights reserved: Amy Seelbach
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