As for you, you meant evil
against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should
be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20
The title of this devotion is "Lemonade," but in
truth, it has nothing to do with lemons.
It has to do with potatoes.
It was the year 1853 and George Crum, a chef who was
working in Saratoga Springs, New York, was dealing with a complaining customer.
It appears the unhappy patron did not find his fried potatoes to be crisp
enough.
Again and again he sent his spuds back to the chef for
a reworking. Time and again the chef had tried to make the man happy. As the
interchange progressed, both men became more and more upset.
Finally, Chef Crum broke. He threw out the old
potatoes and cut some new ones. He cut them paper thin and dropped them into
ultra-hot fat. He delivered the plate of potatoes to the surprised patron. After
a bite or two, the face of the pleased patron told Crum he had discovered
something quite unique.
Indeed, he had! A complaining patron helped Crum
invent America's most popular snack food: potato chips.
That story set me to wondering, is it possible the
Lord sometimes gives us challenges so we might discover something wonderful? He
most certainly did so for the Old Testament's Joseph. You remember that Joseph's
brothers had sold him into slavery, and his master had thrown him unfairly into
prison. There Joseph had languished for years, forgotten and alone.
But Joseph did not lose faith. Instead he trusted God
would use these events to bring about a great good. This, of course, is exactly
what did happen.
When His brothers stood before him, Joseph witnessed,
"you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."
My friends, I don't know what crosses you have been
given. I do know the Father in heaven, the Father who proved His love for you by
giving His Son as a payment for your forgiveness and salvation, can use those
crosses for a good purpose -- if you are patient, if you will let Him, if your
eyes are opened so you might see.
To ask for a faith that will patiently await God's
plan, we pray,
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, sometimes things happen which
get in the way of me seeing You, Your love and Your plan for me. At such times,
I ask that the Holy Spirit will allow me to see clearly the Savior's commitment
to me. May I see how His cross has won my salvation? With such a sight before my
eyes, I will believe that You can also use my crosses for good. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries http://www.lhm.org/ all rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
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