CRUX Daily: The Exodus Part 1

Read: Exodus 1 & 2

Reflect: We serve a compassionate God who hears us when we call. What have you ever cried out to God about? Know that God hears us when we call and He will send help when we need it most.

Request (Prayer): Pray Psalm 4:1

At the end of Exodus 2, the people of Israel finally became restless of the condition they were living in. They had been slaves to Pharaoh for too long and they finally cried out to God for help. And when they cried out, guess what? God heard them! And guess what is even cooler? The same God that heard the Israelites in their despair is the same God that hears us in our times of need.

The greatest cry or plea for help is when the person first comes to Christ and sees the grace and knowledge of God. Did you know that we were once in bondage to our sin? This meant that we were a slave to our sin, but Christ, being rich in mercy, reconciled Himself to us. Just as God took the Israelites out of bondage and slavery to Pharaoh, so too does He free us from us being slaves in sin. What great truth and promise that brings!
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CRUX Daily: The Story of Joseph Part 3

Read: Genesis 50:15-21 & Romans 8:28

Reflect: Has God ever used a bad situation for good in your life? Are you going through a hard time right now? Just as God used a bad situation in Joseph’s life for good, God will use it for good if you wait on Him..

Request (Prayer): God help me to see the good you are working in my trials.

Just as Joseph had to endure hardship and affliction is his life, we too will face hard times in life. Maybe it’s the loss of a loved one, financial struggle or a divorce in the family? Regardless of what it is know this, God is using it for a reason! I can remember in my own life, the struggles I faced at age 13 with a very serious medical condition that I thought was the end of it for me yet God showed Himself more through that time in my life than in any other time.
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CRUX Daily: The Story of Joseph part #2

Read: Genesis 40 & 41

Reflect: Even though Joseph was suffering for doing the right thing he was still serving the Lord during this trial. What trials are you facing and how can you serve God in the midst of the trial?

A trial is defined as something that is testing or trying to overcome. One thing is for sure, the Bible tells us that we will face trials. It is not a matter of if but when! I heard this statement and it has stuck with me, “Christians are like teabags, you never know what they are until they are placed in hot water!” Going through trials reveals the core of us and shows the barometer of our dependence upon God. They are not fun to go through but the result is for our good. Trials also help us get closer to God.

Read James 1:2-4 and write down what you learned from these verses regarding trials. How can you learn from Joseph and what James says about having the right attitude and perspective as you go through trials?

Request: Lord, show me opportunities to serve you during the trials I face in this life.

CRUX: Daily-The Story of Joseph

Read: Genesis 39

Reflect: Just as Joseph ran from Poitpher’s wife what temptations are you currently facing that you need to run from?

Have you ever ran from something that you knew could harm you? If your life depended on you getting away from what ever was chasing you, you would show it by running. We can learn something from Joseph in this chapter of Genesis. Did you notice that Potipher’s wife would tempt him every day (vs 10)? Did you notice that Joseph would not listen to hear as well (vs 10)? Joseph did not even give her the time of day. He never gave the chance for it to go beyond temptation. Even when Potipher’s wife was aggressive Joseph ran. We need to treat temptation the same way and just run from. Do not even give it the time of day. Do not even start thinking about it, just run.

Read:

• 1 Corinthians 10:13
• 1 Timothy 6:11
• 2 Timothy 2:22
• 1 Corinthians 6:18

What do these verses tell us what to do when sin is knocking at the door? We need to run from sin and run to God!

Request: Father, help me to stay away from and run from temptation.

CRUX Sunday- Greatest Stories Ever Told: Life of Joseph

Pastor Jon continues in our series, “Greatest Stories Ever Told” with a message looking into the life of Joseph and his pursuit of godliness.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

CRUX Daily: Life of Abraham Part 1

Read: Genesis 17:15-27 & 21:1-7

Reflect: God promised Abraham a son. How did God keep His promise to Abraham in these verses?

Request (Prayer): Father, You have always been faithful to me, help me to remain faithful to you.

Abraham in his old age, was promised a child to be born to him. Not just in old age, but in really old age. He was 100 years old without a child and yet God told him that he would give him a child, more specifically a son.

Imagine for a second, if you were 100 years old without any children and God told you that He was going to give you a son very soon. How would you react to that? I’d probably tell God that He is crazy! It seems like such an impossible situation to be in and to be promised something so detailed is hard to believe. Abraham was somewhat baffled by all of this too.
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