EVERYONE HAS A PRICE…

 

OH, REALLY?!

 

YES, WE DO!

 

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE use this phrase in the bitter, cynical tone. When speaking of people out of love with God and man, unbelievers that is – sinners – are really saying: “Anyone can be bought!” They command a belief that no one is honest – no one is decent – no one really cares. For a covetous amount of money – they would do — anything… and so would you!

OH REALLY?! These people haven’t studied heroes. We all need heroes. We all need role models. With all bulldog veracity, of course, Jesus is the most honorable role model: the Teacher who has never committed a sin, who has never told a single lie, who never has taken a bribe, nor has He entertained one heinous thought!

But: let’s take away that stupid excuse that we can’t behave that holy; that we’re ‘only human.‘ We are not. We are a tri-part creation; created in the image and the likeness of our Creator God. We are, in fact, a spirit, with a soul, living in our body. Let’s look to a single man, not God in the flesh, for only a while because these same type of cynical, joyless people might very well say: “Well, sure, that’s JESUS! No one can come close to His love of man!” OH, REALLY?! In my prison ministry we have recently completed a study on Joseph. His entrance starts in the book of Genesis. You can also study more about him in the books of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Psalms, Acts, Hebrews and Revelation.

Our great God tells us in Genesis 39:2:
The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man…

Is this a big deal? Always! Everything recorded in the Bible is! Let me give you some bullet points about a man, made in the image and likeness of God, who is fully man – the tri-part being: spirit, soul body. Joseph, the foreshadowing of Christ, is truly a man worthy to be honored and emulated:

• Joseph was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ
• But he is only a man
• His father wrongly favored Joseph
• His brothers wrongly hated him
• The majority of them wanted to murder him
• Instead they sold him into slavery, telling his father Jacob / Israel he was killed by a wild animal
• They thought they’d never see him again
• Joseph was bought by Potiphar — and served him well
• The Bible repeatedly tells us Joseph prospered because the LORD was with him
• Potiphar’s wife wrongly accused Joseph of rape
• Joseph was innocent of every sin people accused him of in the Bible
• He was sent to prison by Potiphar (who seemingly knew Joseph did not rape his wife)
• He served in prison — and prospered
• He served Pharaoh — and prospered
• Joseph interpreted dreams and gave God all the glory for the interpretations

Thus are the highlights of crimes committed against Joseph, son of Jacob. And yet the Bible records: The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man…
(Genesis 39:2.)

Herewith is a crucial point. When was Joseph considered a successful man? And, in whose eyes? Let’s reveal the rest of this Scripture:
and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. (Genesis 39:2.)

Now – let’s put is all together:

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:2

He prospered even when he was a slave to the Egyptians! In the eyes of his LORD, Joseph was successful. To men, looking at a mere slave, looked down upon by the Egyptians of those days – he was sub-human, not worthy, not valuable, not useful. Boy! Did they change their minds. The proof is in the Scriptures.

Joseph, hated by brothers he loved, sold into slavery by most of  them, left for dead by them, abused by them and the Midianites and the powers of Egypt; lied about, falsely imprisoned: yet Joseph never returned evil for evil and could not be bought. Had he succumbed to the sin of adultery, perhaps the powerful wife of Potiphar would have ‘set him for life.’ Perhaps if he didn’t share God’s dreams with his then-wicked brothers, they could have all been “one big happy family.” Perhaps if he had lied to the baker – the baker would not have been afraid to be executed by Pharaoh as Joseph told him he would be. (Could this Christ-like man be ministering the reality of God to this sad baker to prepare him to meet his maker?) Very likely. There are no recorded lies or compromises or vengeful thoughts by Joseph, son of Jacob, in the Bible.  Like Jesus Christ, Joseph was a truth-teller and could not be bought. Never will you read of him complaining in the Holy Scriptures. But, you will hear him say this:
“Why do you look so sad today?” (Genesis 40:7.)

Certainly, most of us have asked that question many times to our loved ones, friends, acquaintances, co-workers. And that’s a good thing to help people. But here comes a deep, stirring revelation of a true hero: two men (the cupbearer and the baker) lives were in danger when Pharaoh exiled them to the very same prison Joseph was detained in. And yet, while Joseph was undergoing cruel and unfair defamation of character, Joseph’s eyes remained focused on God and man – all men. His love was deep and his concern was always shown through his words and deeds.

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man…
Genesis 39:2

Joseph has made it abundantly clear throughout his name in the Bible: he cared. He cared for God and man – all men – even his enemies!  For those of you who don’t know about Joseph. I suggest you study him well. Meditate deeply on his relationship with the LORD who always prospered him; how he treated his father and brothers; how he reacted to abuse, lies against him and the murderous attitude of men he loved. I suggest you look for loopholes. There are none.

Joseph is a man, simply a man, and he too, needed the Savior, though whatever transgressions he committed – he was faithful to the LORD. Turn to Hebrews, chapter eleven, where Joseph is again found. Many people refer to this chapter as the Bible’s Heroes Hall of Fame: By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
(Hebrews 11:22.)

Joseph heard from God and he knew that he knew that he knew his people would be freed from the bondage of Egypt – God told him. And in the meantime, he would not sell out God’s love for the price of physical freedom of slavery. Joseph would not sell out his God, his people, his brothers (who did repent) and — he helped Potiphar and Pharaoh and all of Egypt by serving them with the love God gave him. Literally, Joseph saved Egypt from starvation.

As said, Joseph, too needed the Savior for his sin. All do – for only Jesus has never sinned. So what is the price of all men, including godly, stellar examples such as Joseph  as well as the ungodly, inexcusable wicked examples such as Herod? The price, by which all men must be bought, is the blood of the Paschal Lamb of God – Jesus Christ – who takes away the sin of the world!

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26

Yes, Beloved, (that’s all of you) we do have a price. Some may choose thirty pieces of silver (the price of a slave) like Judas – while those who cherish the good thank God everlastingly they are valued so much, truly beyond one’s comprehension.

May God add the blessings of His Word – the Word, Jesus, to your life now and forevermore, amen and amen.

NAME YOUR PRICE – JESUS CHRIST!

Scriptural Truths From This “Joy Story”

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15-17

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
Luke 6:27-33

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11

 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6:20

 

TO FIND ANSWERS REGARDING:
My Statement of Faith
Life After Death
Why An Uncountable Number Of People Have Vanished –

GO TO THESE POSTINGS:

WHY I AM EVER GRATEFUL
Posted: AUGUST 30, 2015

YOUR FINAL DESTINY / IT’S UP TO YOU…
Posted: October 8, 2015

WHY UNCOUNTABLE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HAVE VANISHED:
Posted: SEPTEMBER 29, 2015