[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 創世記 Genesis 41-42]
33 現在，請法老選一個聰明又有智慧的人，委派他治理埃及地。 34 請法老這樣做，委派官員治理這地，在七個豐年的期間，徵收埃及地出產的五分之一， 35 叫他們聚集未來豐年一切的糧食，積存五穀歸在法老的手下作糧食，儲藏在各城裏。 36 這糧食可以為這地作儲備，為了埃及地要來的七個荒年，免得這地被饑荒所滅。」33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
創世記 Genesis 41:33-36
當約瑟被波提乏的妻子誣告時，他並沒有向上帝抱怨自己被不公正地監禁，而是繼續信靠上帝的主權。後來，當機會來臨時，約瑟不但為法老解夢，也提供了夢中問題的解決方案。他告訴法老，是上帝給了他這種理解，他希望獲得榮耀的是上帝而不是他自己。
今天，我們看到我們的文化變得越來越世俗化，其造成的破壞是災難性的。放眼望去，我們看到的是社會的崩潰。效法約瑟的榜樣，我們基督徒不僅可以仰望祈求上帝，還可以且應該採取行動來提供解決方案。
我們每個人都是為 解決問題 而生的…… 多年來，我們認為影響文化的最佳方式是在我們的城市開展傳福音活動。 這些活動雖然很重要，但並不能改變 社會 。必須包括安置有動力的信徒在定義文化的每個領域的頂端，使他們成為該文化中的問題解決者，從而對它產生 敬虔 的影響。
～Change Agent by Os Hillman
約瑟沒有讓自己因遇到的問題而灰心喪志或退縮，而是面對問題，並且採取行動，成為一名問題解決者！願上帝幫助我們和我們的孩子成為解決問題的人，為我們的社會帶來祝福，並將所有的榮耀歸於上帝！
禱告：親愛的上帝，請幫助我們不要簡單地抱怨周圍看到的問題，而是利用「來自上頭的智慧」來成為解決問題的人，並將一切榮耀歸於祢！奉耶穌的名，阿門！
When he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph did not complain to God about his being unjustly imprisoned but rather continued to trust in God’s sovereignty. Later, when the situation arose, Joseph not only interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams to him but also provided the solution to the problem presented in the dreams. He told Pharaoh that it was God who had provided the understanding, wanting God to be the One who received the glory and not himself.
Today we see our culture becoming increasingly secular with the resulting damage being catastrophic. Everywhere we look, we see the collapse of society. Following Joseph’s example, we Christians not only can look to God and pray but can and should also take action to provide the solutions.
Each of us was created to solve a problem… For years we thought that the best way to influence culture was to have an evangelism campaign in our cities. These activities alone, though important, do not change society. They must include the dynamic of believers positioned at the top of each sphere of influence that defines culture who become problem solvers in that culture, thereby giving godly influence over it.
~ Change Agent by Os Hillman
Joseph did not allow himself to become discouraged or immobilized by the problems he encountered but rather faced them and directly took action, becoming a problem solver! May God help us and our children to be problem solvers and in this way bring blessings to our society and direct all glory to God!
Prayer: Dear God, help us to not simply complain about the problems we see around us but rather to use “wisdom from above” to become problem solvers. In this way, may all glory go to You! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
