Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” emphasizing living with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
Scriptures for today:
(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.
(Ecc 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.
(Gen 43:32 AMP)
And [the servants] set out [the food] for [Joseph] by himself, and for [his brothers] by themselves, and for those Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, according to the Egyptian custom not to eat food with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
Setting the stage.
In our last message, we left off with Joseph storming out of the room to release his emotions with an overflow of tears. He wept uncontrollably. When he was done crying, he washed his face, regained his composure, returned to the room with his brothers, and said, “Serve the meal!” The meal was served, and everyone ate, but the seating arrangement was worth mentioning. Joseph’s brothers sat at one table, the Egyptians who were invited sat at another table, and Joseph sat at a third table, all by himself.
Scholars say, of this verse, that the Egyptians were generally very superstitious people. They would have no social dealings with people of any other nation. They could not even use the knife of a Greek because they might have reason to suspect it had cut the flesh of an animal they held sacred. I understand what the scholars say, but when it all comes down to it, this was prejudice and racism.
The Egyptians knew Joseph was a Hebrew, so he could not sit with them. The brothers did not know Joseph was a Hebrew, so he could not sit with them. Joseph was too Jewish to sit with the Egyptians but too Egyptian to sit with the Jews. So there he was, by himself. Joseph was the second in command of all of Egypt; he was responsible for feeding millions of people and single-handedly saved Egypt, but he was still not good enough to sit with the Egyptians. Joseph could not even sit with his servants. That’s how ridiculous racism is.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Complaining will get you nowhere.
Joseph went through a great deal to become the man he was called to be. He was betrayed by his own blood, forced to live as a slave in a foreign land, sent to prison for years for a crime he did not commit, and then, once he was walking in the blessing, he was still not accepted because he was a Jew living amongst people who could not stand Jews. But you know what? Joseph never complained. He never got depressed over the fact that he had to eat alone. The Bible does not say that he ever got discontented, disgruntled, or disillusioned over his treatment. Joseph never murmured to God about the fact that he did not fit in.
If you are going to do anything significant for God, the truth is that you will have to overcome significant obstacles. You can complain about it, which will not help, or you can develop the patience required to keep going. The Greek word translated for patience in the New Testament means “the force of consistency.” The key to Joseph’s success was that he remained consistent, day in and day out. I pray you develop Godly patience so you can do the same!
How this applies to you:
— Understand that complaining will not change your situation, but staying focused and patient will.
— Embrace the force of consistency in your life, regardless of external challenges.
— Develop the patience to keep going, even when faced with significant obstacles.
— Remember that God’s purpose for your life requires discipline and focus for the long haul.
— Keep your emotions in check; after expressing them, regain composure and continue on with your mission.
— One of the things I have been warning you about in this series is distractions. Complaining is a distraction.
— Complaining requires you to focus on negative aspects of your situation that are not productive. When you complain, you shift your attention away from God’s promises and the purpose He has set before you.
— Complaining diverts your energy towards grumbling about what is wrong instead of using that energy to remain steadfast and focused on the solutions and opportunities God provides. It causes you to dwell on problems rather than pursuing progress, making it a significant hindrance to maintaining the discipline and focus necessary to walk with God for the long haul.
2. The key to pursuing your purpose is remaining focused.
If you look at anyone in the Bible who God used mightily, the story may be different, but the struggle will be similar to Joseph’s. Paul was imprisoned, over and over again, for preaching the Gospel. But he never stopped because God called him to do it. Paul chose to focus on his purpose and not his problems. This is how we should all live. John was exiled to the island of Patmos, but he kept on writing what God gave him to say because he understood the call of God on his life. David spent years as a fugitive, living in caves, all because he was called to be king. Make no mistake; Joseph went through all the mess that he went through because he was determined to become the man he was called to be. We must live with that same focus.
In the text we are looking at today, Joseph knew he was close to seeing the full manifestation of the dream, but he was not there yet. So, he remained focused. He wiped his tears, came back into the room, and continued on with the mission.
a) Life is not always easy. It is especially hard when you know what you are called to do, and you know you are not doing it yet. When you are in transition, in the space between your history and your destiny, it is often difficult to remain focused. But you must remain focused if you want to see the promise manifested! That’s what Joseph did, and it is what we must all learn to do.
b) Joseph cried; he went through hard times; he had to live amongst people who did not even respect him enough to eat with him, and he kept going. I would love to tell you that becoming the man/woman God called you to be will be easy, but I would be lying. It may cost you everything. But what you will get in return is the life God called you to live. Believe me, it will be worth it!
How this applies to you:
— Recognize that achieving your purpose will involve significant struggles, but if you refuse to give up, these struggles will eventually become an insignificant part of your life’s story.
— Keep your focus on God’s purpose for your life, even when the journey is tough, and you feel you are not making progress. The only way you can lose is if you quit.
— Accept that there will be emotional highs and lows, but you must regain your composure and stay on course. Don’t allow your emotions to derail you from your destiny.
— Trust that every challenge you face is preparing you for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
— Understand that true success will come over time if you remain faithful and focused, regardless of external circumstances.
3. While pursuing God’s beautiful purpose for your life, don’t allow ugly situations to derail you from your destiny.
Joseph was the #2 man in all of Egypt. He was a national hero who was saving the nation through a famine, and his plan was working beautifully, but in the end, he was still a Jew. So the Egyptians, even his servants, could not eat with him.
a) Racism is an ugly reality that raises its head from time to time, even in the church. It is still a major issue in the United States today.
b) Racism is ugly, but it does not have to stop you. Their poison cannot stop your purpose. It did not stop Joseph, and if you remain focused, it will not stop you!
c) If you believe God and The Blessing, you can rise above any challenge, including racism.
d) Walking and living by faith is not always comfortable. Sometimes The Blessing and the favor of God will cause you to operate in positions where you just don’t fit in. You are not there to fit in; you are there to make a difference.
e) The peace of God can give you the internal fortitude to face every uncomfortable situation with supernatural serenity and strength.
f) God did not call you to comfort; He called you to purpose! Remember that!
How this applies to you:
— Understand that ugly situations, including racism, cannot derail God’s purpose for your life unless you allow yourself to get distracted.
— Believe that God’s blessing and favor will enable you to rise above every challenge.
— Embrace the peace of God, which provides you with the strength to handle uncomfortable situations.
— Focus on making a difference, not fitting in; God placed you in your position for a reason.
— Remember that God called you to fulfill a purpose, not to seek comfort, and He will equip you for the journey.
— Sometimes, from the outside looking in, people see your blessing, but they don’t see your burden. I am sure many people in Egypt saw Joseph as the #2 man in the land, seeing him as blessed. But they did not see him when no one else was around. He was saving Egypt, but he was still not good enough to eat with the Egyptians. Pharoah even gave him an Egyptian woman to be his wife, but his Egyptian wife could not change the fact that he was an Israelite. So, while the world saw the blessing, Joseph quietly dealt with the burdens of his calling.
— No one truly knows what you have had to endure to get to where you are. No one will see most of what you will have to go through to get to where you are going. But just as long as you don’t complain or get distracted, you will arrive at God’s preplanned destination for your life, and when you get there, it won’t be because it was easy. It will be because you refused to quit!
— To become the man/woman of God you are called to be requires grit, determination, focus, perseverance, and most of all, the grace of God. Because without God’s grace, there is no way you can overcome all you have to overcome on the road to your destiny.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I know Your hand is upon my life, guiding me and blessing me at every step.
Your favor surrounds me like a shield, and I walk in the confidence of Your divine protection and provision.
I embrace the discipline and focus required to fulfill Your purpose for my life, knowing that You are with me through every challenge.
Even when I face significant obstacles, I remain patient and consistent, trusting in Your timing and Your plan.
I choose not to complain or get discouraged, but to keep my eyes fixed on the mission You have set before me.
Your peace fills my heart, giving me the strength to face any situation with calm assurance and unwavering faith.
I know that uncomfortable and challenging situations are part of my journey, but they will not deter me from my destiny.
Your love and grace empower me to overcome every obstacle, including prejudice and opposition.
I am here to make a difference, not to fit in, and I embrace the unique path You have designed for me.
Living with a laser focus on Your purpose, I declare that GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
