Thurs.’s Devo - The Power of the Seed

Read: Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35
The life of Joseph during this period is a picture of Jesus living through the church. Egypt stands for the world. Potiphar was a worldly leader in whom Joseph found favor and gained position because of his integrity. The devil couldn’t stand it so he used Potiphar’s wife to try to trip Joseph up. When she couldn’t entice him to sin, she lied about him. He lost his position and was wrongly imprisoned. But, God was always with him, using every trial and test to shape and mold him into the man he would need to bring salvation to the world.
While Joseph was in prison he interpreted the dreams of two of the prisoners who were both accused of plotting to poison the king. One was innocent and the other guilty. These dreams were the verdict of judgment. The innocent man received his reward which was restoration and life. The guilty man received his reward which was death. This is what our presence on the earth does. God’s children are a living reminder of the state. of their heart. They are either drawn to us and receive salvation, or they are repulsed by us and suffer damnation.
Then the king had a dream and it was time for Joseph to be promoted. He made sure that they knew where his wisdom came from. He was brought out of obscurity to rule and reign. This is exactly where the church is in time. We have been hidden in our churches where we have been only a little effective. We are being brought out of the church and into the world to be the light to the world to bring life and judgment. Jesus gave us this picture in today’s reading. The seed of the Word is rising up all over the world. The condition of the person’s soil - their heart - determines the effectiveness of the Word to them. Jesus said that it was this parable that all the parables hung. If they didn’t have ears to hear, and a heart to understand then they won’t be able to understand anything else Jesus had to say. If we do have good soil, then we will yield a crop a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what is sown. This means that we will blessed by the Word abundantly.
Lord, You bless the home of the righteous and we inherit honor.