Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” with the point being that we should live with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
This is the main scripture we will be looking at this year:
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
We are also looking at these scriptures as we consider the life of Joseph.
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Gen 39:21-23 ERV)
21 The Lord was with Joseph and continued to show his kindness to him, so the commander of the prison guards began to like Joseph.
22 The commander of the guards put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. Joseph was their leader, but he still did the same work they did.
23 The commander of the guards trusted Joseph with everything that was in the prison. This happened because the Lord was with Joseph. The Lord helped Joseph be successful in everything he did.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. God calls you by His unearned grace, but that does not mean it will be easy!
The Apostle Paul said about his call: “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.” (Gal 1:15,16 NLT).
One of the hardest things for believers to truly settle in their hearts is the fact that God calls you by His grace and not your works.
— Paul and Joseph did nothing to earn or deserve the calling of God on their lives. God called Paul while he was on his way to persecute Christians. God gave Joseph the dream while he was still a young and arrogant teenager living in his father’s home. But the truth is that while Paul discovered his call on the road to Damascus and Joseph discovered his call while he was in a deep sleep, both men were called before the world began. Both were called before they were born. Neither did anything to earn or deserve their assignment. The argument can be made that both were unqualified. But God called them anyway because God calls us by His grace and not our merit. What was true for Paul and Joseph is true for you!
— God does not call you because of your works. God calls you to His purpose by His grace (see 2 Tim 1:9), and He then puts you to work.
— God’s call on your life is finished. It will not change. It is the “fixed purpose” I have been teaching about all year. You cannot disqualify yourself because you never qualified in the first place. All you can do is accept, believe, embrace, and walk in God’s call because it is His finished work. When you do, you will experience the life you were born to live, which will be amazing. However, as we will learn today, it will not be easy. God’s FREE call comes at a HIGH COST. That cost is EVERYTHING! Becoming the man/woman God called you to be will literally COST you everything!
— There is a supernatural life waiting for you on the other side of your personal cross. The day you die to self is the day you will begin living it. It’s easy to look at Prime Minister Joseph, living in the palace, and say, “Wow. I want to be like him.” But you don’t know what he went through. People see your glory, but they don’t know your story. Joseph had to endure the paternal phase, pit phase, Potiphar phase, and prison phase of his life before he could enjoy the Prime Minister phase. So, while God’s call is free, the process is not. It will cost you everything!
Say, “AMEN” to that!
2. You have the GRACE for your divine assignment.
Paul said, “And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” (Rom 11:6 NIV). He also said, “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” (Eph 2:10 ERV)
— The message of God’s grace is often offensive to those who want to work for everything they get from God. It’s hard to accept the fact that you cannot work for it and you could never earn it.
— While we cannot work FOR grace (because it is free), the Bible clearly teaches us that we are to work BY grace. There are things God called us to from the foundations of the world — Paul calls them “good works” — and God has already given us the grace to do those things. The grace of God is on us and in us to face, endure, and overcome everything that is waiting for us on the path to our destiny.
— God will only require OF you what He has already deposited IN you! Under the New Covenant, we are not performing to receive anything from God. Our goal now is to hear from Heaven concerning His plans for our lives and launch out in faith to bring those things to pass. We do this fully believing that God has already equipped to do what He called us to do. We are not performing FOR the assignment (that’s Old Covenant). We are performing BECAUSE we have been assigned (that’s New Testament).
— While it is true that Joseph endured many challenges on the road to his purpose, it is also true that God was with him every step of the way. God graced him to become the man He called him to be. What was true for Joseph is true for you! You were born for this! So don’t give up; GREATER is coming!
3. While God’s call is FREE, it will COST you everything!
When Joseph made it to the prison, I can only imagine what was going through his head. He probably had questions like we all do:
— God, where are you?
— Why is this happening to me?
— Why did you let this happen?
— Did I do something wrong?
— Have you left me?
— Have you forgotten about me?
Joseph endured painful situation after painful situation until he ultimately made it to the palace, which is why he needed faith and patience. When God’s timing was right, Joseph was promoted from prisoner to Prime Minister in ONE DAY! That’s an awesome story, but he had to wait 13 years for it. He then had to wait another 9 years before he was reunited with his brothers. Let’s gather a few nuggets from this.
— The dream is free, but the processing is not. God gave Joseph the dream when he was just 17. The dream came to pass when he was 39. Joseph could have never imagined all he would have to go through in those 22 years.
— God will show you the dream to get you excited about it. But He will not show you the processing because He knows you can’t handle knowing about it. If you had foreknowledge of everything you would have to endure in order to become the man/woman you are called to be, you might run the other way!
— I remember watching the Michael Jordan documentary, “The Last Dance.” At the end of episode 7, Michael Jordan says something to the effect of: “There is a cost to being a winner. There is a cost to be a leader. Not everyone was willing to pay that cost.” Joseph had to pay the cost to become the man he was called to be. I have been, and still am, paying the cost of living the life God has called me to. My question to you is: ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE COST? The call is free. But if you want it, IT WILL COST YOU EVERYTHING!
If you are watching (or reading) this, then I believe you are willing to pay the cost.
Say, “AMEN” to that!
4. Embracing the Full Cost of Your Divine Calling
Joseph’s journey from the pit to the palace illustrates the profound truth that while God’s calling is freely given, realizing it demands everything from us. Here are some practical takeaways from Joseph’s experience:
— God has given you the grace to remain faithful through trials: Just as Joseph remained faithful in Potiphar’s house (after his brothers betrayed him) and in prison (after being convicted on false accusations), we must remain faithful (no matter what we face) to become the man/woman we are called to be!
— Recognize God’s presence in troubling times: Despite being a slave and later a prisoner, Joseph was aware that God was with him. It’s crucial to recognize God’s presence in your own life during the tough times. Once you acknowledge that God is there, His presence brings you into His peace, and in this state, you can access His power and grace.
— Never waste a season of your life: We live our lives out in times, seasons, levels, and stages. The longer you walk with God, the more you realize that each prepares you for the next. What you don’t want to do is ever waste a season because if you fail the test, you may have to retake it. Joseph did not retake any tests. He picked up the skills he needed to learn in Potiphar’s house and later in the prison, so when the time came to get promoted, he was ready. Are you making the most of your current season?
— God can change your life with one sudden shift! Get ready for your “suddenly” blessings! Joseph was suddenly elevated from prisoner to prime minister in one moment. Be prepared for sudden shifts in your life that propel you toward your destiny. Stay ready so that when God moves, you are fully prepared to step into the role He has designed for you.
— God will make you an overnight success after years (or decades) of preparation: Joseph’s rise to power occurred in a single day. He woke up in the prison and went to sleep in the palace. He started his day as a prisoner and ended it as the Prime Minister. It all happened in one day, but only after years of preparation. So know this: 1) your preparation is not being wasted, 2) the bigger the calling, the longer the preparation and the stronger the opposition, and 3) when it finally happens, you will look back and say, “It was worth it!”
Say, “AMEN” to that!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I embrace Your call by grace, not by my works; I surrender all to fulfill Your purpose for my life.
I commit to unwavering faithfulness and integrity, no matter the trials I face.
I utilize every season for growth and processing, knowing it prepares me for the next season and, ultimately, for my destiny.
I trust in Your perfect timing and ready myself for sudden divine shifts that propel me toward my calling. One “SUDDENLY” blessing can change my life forever!
I rejoice in Your eternal commitment to me, confident in the unchanging nature of Your plans.
Father, I am prepared to pay the full cost of my divine calling, embracing the sacrifices required for Your glory.
I declare that I am forever within Your sight and care, empowered by Your grace and favor.
I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME, so I am willing to pay the cost today for the future You planned! Whatever price I have to pay, I know it will be worth it in the end!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
