October 8 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Consider the similarities between the careers of Joseph and Jesus. Both left their father's house, both lived obediently through a state of humiliation, both were exalted to the throne after their time of obedient suffering had ended, and both saved the lives of their people.

These similarities are too striking to be ignored by those who believe that the Old Testament predicts what the New Testament proclaims. But since the New Testament does not even mention the name of Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, we must be cautious in our conclusions.

Joseph refused to sin with Potiphar's wife. In our time, in which adultery passes for entertainment and lust is advertised, Joseph is not only scorned for passing up a good time, he is also considered abnormal. At least one psychologist claims he has "established" that Joseph was sexually abnormal because of his intimate love for his father.

We cannot expect the people of this world to understand Joseph, who said, "How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" The children of the present world cannot understand Joseph because they don't know Joseph's God: "How can I... sin against God?"

How many of us would commit a sin if we could be absolutely'sure that we would not be found out by people? And how many sins have we refrained from simply because we lacked the opportunity—or, to put it in Christian terms, because we were spared the temptation? Knowing this about ourselves should make us forever reluctant to condemn anyone else who falls into sin.

Meanwhile, the cynics of the world have another reason to laugh: Joseph's obedience is the start of his troubles. He gets a jail term of at least two years.

But that should not confuse us. Those who are obedient will often be humiliated. To us that's proof we are on the right track, for that's the way of obedience Jesus followed.

REFLECTIONS

Ask yourself the personal questions found in the third paragraph from the end of this reading.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.