CONQUERING THROUGH HOPE: THE CONCEPTION OF HOPE

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.  ‎So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”  And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.  Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”  So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”  ‎And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (Genesis 37:5-11)

This hope that was conceived in the heart of Joseph was implanted by God.  It wasn’t a childish fantasy like I had, but it was the intended purpose for which God brought Joseph into this world—that one day he would make a difference in the world—and what a difference he would make! 

Now, I would not suggest that all of us will become a Joseph in the magnitude of impact we will have—some are set apart by God for the greatest works—greatness as defined by numbers and notoriety.  Maybe the teenager in our home or church youth group will be the next Billy Graham.  God does call modern day Josephs!

One thing is for certain—whatever God has for us to do is never a small work if done for Him.  It has a weight of glory and an impact of eternal significance.  If we do not make a difference on a global stage, as Joseph did, we can nevertheless exert an influence in our little corner of the globe in the spirit of hope that filled the heart of Joseph. 

I want to remind you that it is faithfulness to what God has set before us to become and achieve that determines your success irrespective of human evaluation.  God created you with certain capacities and competencies that you can develop and employ to the full.  When you were born again, He bestowed spiritual gifts upon you. 

Not all of us are equal in the size of the capacity we have to serve Him.  The reality is that some have a bigger stage and a larger ability.

Do not be discouraged!  God has equally distributed to all His children the opportunity to be all He has called us to be!  It isn’t the ability we have potentially, but the availability we have practically that brings the smile of heaven.

What is the hope God has birthed in your heart?  Why are you here in this world and in this time?  What difference does it make? 

God intends for us to make a difference.  You—yes you—can be a modern-day Joseph!