The Daily Word: Monday, January 25th, 2021
Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. – Gen. 50:12
Jacob made Joseph promise him something before he died. “Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,” Jacob said (Gen. 48:29). And Joseph agreed. So after Jacob died, Joseph did what Jacob had commanded him to do. This was his way of honoring his father: by carrying out his word. So Joseph and his brothers “carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre” (Gen. 50:13).
Jacob left Joseph specific instructions, and Joseph carried them out. In the same way, Jesus left us – His church – specific instructions and asked us to carry them out. He asked us to preach the gospel to “all the world” (Mk. 16:15). He asked us to care for the widow and the orphan (Jas. 1:27). He asked us to love our neighbors as He has loved us (Jn. 13:34)! And the way we honor His death is by carrying out His command.
I pray the Holy Spirit would strengthen us today to honor Jesus by doing what He asked us to do. It is one thing to make the promise. It is another to lay down your life for its fulfillment.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. – Jn. 15:13
Prayer:
Father, strengthen me! Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to do everything You have called me to do. I want to honor you in word and deed! And I can only do it with Your help, in Jesus’ name.
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.