Grace!

It was good to have Bob back with us leading worship. Cliff launched out in prayer for the Church, and Michelle read from Ephesians 6.

I shared from Genesis 42, which had blessed me so much during the week. I had felt the Spirit bring ‘old truth’ to me with a freshness that set my heart dancing.

Joseph was treated so badly by his brothers. Understatement! They intended to kill him, and threw him  into a pit. But with the chance to get some cash, they sold him instead. For Joseph, a little bit like death and resurrection. Makes you think of someone else? – there’s more.

In Egypt, the Lord gave Joseph success wherever life took him. He prospered, he was set up, he went to prison, he prospered, he was let out, and found himself sitting at the king’s right hand, and was given all authority by the king. Make you think of Someone else? There’s more.

After 7 years of plenty, famine struck, and his brothers came begging for him to save their lives by giving them grain. They were so unworthy. Understatement! They did not recognise Joseph, but he recognised them. What did he do? He gave each of them grain as requested, but returned their money by having it placed back in the bags of grain.

That was what struck me most. Those who had despised and treated him with worse than contempt, went to him to save their lives. And Joseph would not let them buy grain – he GAVE it to them. Freely. GRACE!

I am like the brothers. (So are you). So unworthy, and we came to Jesus for life. And he GAVE us abundant life freely. GRACE! That blesses me so much, and I just want to continue living for him as a big Thankyou.

Michelle led communion, and Barry H then shared some thoughts on Ruth. Be like Boaz, and live in the land during adversity, and not like Elimelech. The latter died, but Boaz prospered under God.

For your diary –

The prayer meeting is at Catfield on Thursday.

Next Sunday, David Adams is speaking and there is a Liberty Lunch.

Interested in Alpha? There is one running in Catfield. See Shirlene.