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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n-1-<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jon W. Quinn -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bryan Gibson Not long after Joseph arrived in Egypt, Potiphar bought him from the Ishmaelites. Joseph served so well in Potiphar\u2019s house that Potiphar made him the overseer of his house. How well did Joseph handle this responsibility? So well that Potiphar \u201cleft all that he had in Joseph\u2019s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate\u201d (Genesis 39:6). While Joseph was serving in Potiphar\u2019s house, Potiphar\u2019s wife \u201ccast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, lie with me\u201d (Genesis 39:7). Joseph was very firm in his refusal, and among other things said to her, \u201cHow then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?\u201d Potiphar\u2019s wife did not give up easily. She continued to make advances toward him and one day even grabbed him by his garment, pleading with him to lie with her. What did Joseph do? \u201cHe fled and ran outside\u201d (Genesis 39:12). Joseph\u2019s life was sort of like a roller coaster, a lot of ups and downs. He rose to the second highest position in all of Egypt, but look at what he went through before that. He was sold as a slave by his own brothers, and he spent two years in prison. What is admirable about Joseph, though, is that during these bad times, he showed no bitterness and he maintained his faith in God (see Genesis 39; 40:7-8; 41:15-16; 45:5-8; 50:15-21). He was just as faithful to God during the bad times as he was during the good times. Adversity presents a big test to our faith and character. Joseph passed his with flying colors\u2014what about us? \u201cFor what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God\u201d (NASB). 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1) The Best Gift You Can Give to God (Jon W. Quinn)2) We Need More Men like Joseph (Bryan Gibson) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3331"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3350,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3331\/revisions\/3350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Best Gift You Can Give to God<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor I testify that according to their ability and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God\u201d <\/em>(2 Corinthians 8:3-5). Paul here describes the brethren in Macedonia as giving themselves first of all \u201cto the Lord.\u201d To bring the point home, we each must ask ourselves how much we are willing to give to the Lord. Will this gift be our first priority, as it was theirs?
How much are we to give to Jesus? There are at least two occasions where Jesus taught that God does not desire any sacrifice at all! You\u2019d better read that again! Yes. That\u2019s what I said. What\u2019s up with that?
The two times Jesus said this are found in Matthew 9:9-13 and 12:1-7. They have to do with proper motive. God does not desire sacrifices offered from those who are doing so in a boastful, prideful way, lacking compassion and good will. Or, we could say God does not desire our worship if it is lacking spirit and truth (John 4:23,24) or if our hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8,9).
The Greek word translated into our English word \u201csacrifice\u201d <\/em>means \u201coffering\u201d<\/em> or \u201cgift.\u201d<\/em> Under the Old Testament Law, there were three main types of sacrifices, or gifts, made to God. There were (1) sin offerings offered for atonement, (2) thank offerings offered in gratitude for blessings and (3) consecratory offerings offered as a part of a sanctification or dedication process, such as when the newly built temple was dedicated.
Under the New Testament today, we can divide the sacrifices of our covenant into these same three categories. Our (1) sin offering for our atonement has been offered by Jesus on the cross (Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 9:23), (2) Our daily discipleship becomes our consecratory offering as we dedicate our daily lives to God\u2019s glory and service (Luke 9:23; Romans 12:1,2) and (3) our praise becomes our thank offering by which we express our heartfelt gratitude unto God (Hebrews 13:15; Ephesians 5:19,20).
God, in some instances, does not want sacrifice to be offered. We saw that Jesus said that God does not want a sacrifice from someone without compassion. He said first go and learn compassion. Under what other circumstances can our gifts to God be rejected today?
Willfully continuing in sin will cause our service to be rejected by God (Hebrews 10:26). Or having no love for God or others (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). To give that which is without cost – we only give that which we know we will not miss (2 Samuel 24:24).
Jesus is our example. Think about what Jesus gave for us. Already, He has given far more for us than we could give for Him. He emptied Himself by looking out for our needs. He became a humble servant. He gave His life (John 3:16; Hebrews 2:14-18). He paid the price for our redemption that we could never hope to pay for ourselves. He paid the price; not in dollars and cents; not in silver and gold, but with His own innocent blood (1 Peter 1:18-21).
Now, what shall we give to God? We will give ourselves to Him. We will live by faith. We will do His will. We will never give up. We will teach His gospel. We will not be ashamed. We will cast down our pride. We will make no excuses. We will enjoy the peace of God. We will be secure in our hope. We will one day live with Him. We will never stop giving to the One who has never stopped giving to us. We give ourselves. \u201cIt\u2019s the gift that just keeps on giving.\u201d<\/em>
— via Articles<\/em> from the Knollwood church of Christ, December 2025
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/gen39-9-bsb-1024x919.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe Need More Men like Joseph<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The life story of Joseph is told in Genesis 37-50. Read it and you will be filled with admiration for this great man. To help us better understand his nearly impeccable character, let\u2019s look at three things he handled very well.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe handled responsibility very well.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Later, when Joseph was imprisoned, he was given another job. \u201cThe keeper of the prison committed to Joseph\u2019s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison\u201d (Genesis 39:22). Again, Joseph showed himself to be dependable, because the \u201ckeeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph\u2019s authority\u201d (Genesis 39:23).
Joseph was later released from prison when he interpreted Pharaoh\u2019s dream, and it was then that he was given his most demanding job. Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph that he said, \u201cYou shall be ruler over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you\u201d (Genesis 41:40). Pharaoh trusted Joseph to such a degree that when famine struck the land, he told the Egyptians, \u201cGo to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do\u201d (Genesis 41:55).
Wouldn\u2019t it be great if we all handled responsibility as well as Joseph did? When given a task\u2014any task\u2014we should be trusted to do the job well and do it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe handled temptation very well.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What a great example! We can resist temptations, no matter how strong they may be. God provides a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Joseph found his, and so can we.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe handled adversity very well.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
— Via Articles<\/em> from the Prattmont church of Christ, October 19, 2015
_________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n1 Peter 2:20<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized <\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by <\/strong>living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday:<\/strong> 9 a.m<\/strong>. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first):<\/strong> 7 p.m.<\/strong> Bible Classes
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. <\/strong>Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm<\/a> (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"