SOME THOUGHTS ON A YIELDED LIFE  by Bishop Jeff Greenway

Allow me to let you in on a universal truth—God doesn’t waste a thing. The Apostle Paul knew this from experience. He experienced prison, beatings, shipwreck, and a host of other adversities, yet he could still write: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

How could he say that? Because he had yielded his life to Jesus. He could write that because he loved God and was living life under his will.

We find the same belief displayed in the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. Jacob favored him, and he had the gift of dreaming and interpreting dreams. His brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. Potiphar's wife falsely accused him and had him imprisoned. After interpreting a dream for Pharaoh, he gained his release and rose to become Egypt's second in command, enabling them to prepare for and survive a seven-year famine.

During the famine, his brothers came to Egypt seeking grain. It’s a great encounter you can read in Genesis 42-45. When Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, they were afraid he would bring all the power of Egypt to bear on them because, in their jealousy, they had sold him into slavery and faked his death.

But Joseph understood something they did not. God doesn’t waste a thing in a yielded life. He told them: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” (Genesis 50:20) God doesn’t waste a thing in a yielded life. God turns evil into good. It didn’t seem good to Joseph when he was sold into slavery or was sitting in prison. But now it was clear: his enslavement had enabled his promotion to a prominent position. That enabled him to save Egypt and his family. God didn’t waste a thing.

Friends, God doesn’t waste a thing in the lives of his people. You may not see it that way when a house burns down, a job is lost, or a diagnosis arrives. But if you love Jesus Christ—and live a life yielded to him—God won’t waste it. I encourage you to live a yielded life, my friends!