Mon., 2/12/18 Devotion (Gen. 45:7)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 45:7, which says this:

"And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance."

This is Joseph speaking here (above), as he addressed his shocked brothers. Joseph is a "type" of Christ. Jesus did fully and perfectly, what Joseph did (partially and imperfectly): Christ has "preserve[d] a posterity . . . in the earth." He has done this through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, whereby He purchased the church for Himself.

As we are faithful churchmen today, we may rejoice greatly in Jesus. All the benefits of heaven are ours, now, even here on earth, in our Lord Jesus Christ. These are all apprehended by grace through faith in Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "God is not now terrifying to us; but in Christ, God's nature is Fatherly and sweet to us.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Free-dom"]