The real path to greatness

Welcome to an awesome week!
Show me someone who has done something worthwhile and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity – Lou Holtz

Challenges are inevitable life experiences, which must be faced headlong. These experiences are designed to strengthen and prepare us for greatness, which lies ahead.

Joseph’s secret
In studying the Bible, we come across Joseph – a man who triumphed in spite of the bitter experiences and challenges he encountered. He knew he was meant to be great when God showed him a grand vision where he saw himself in an exalted position of authority with everyone including his father and mother submitting to him. Shortly after this, his brothers plotted against him and sold him into slavery. In the twinkling of an eye he found himself as a slave boy in a strange land.

Determined to make the best of the situation, Joseph laboured diligently and then while going about his business, he was enticed to have an illicit affair by Potiphar’s wife.

“…Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “… How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” Genesis 39:6-9.

Potiphar’s wife felt scorned and framed Joseph up and he ended up in prison for an offence he never committed.

The path to greatness is laden with obstacles and challenges are generally unpleasant. Overcoming them requires fixing your eyes on the goal and going through the process joyfully. Joseph understood this and went about his prison duties with diligence and a joyful disposition – he eventually became a manager of the other prisoners.

You need to be mindful that life will always present choices to you. Whenever there is a challenge, Satan would present short cuts and self-gratification options but your obligation is to uphold the standard of God’s word.

If you fail to uphold God’s standards, you run the risk of derailing from the path of greatness and treading the path to failure, shame or doom. In Genesis, Eve gave in to the temptation of self-gratification at the expense of God’s word. The consequence was devastating (Genesis 3:1-19).

Joseph endured and continued to uphold God’s word and how did he end?
“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “… You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” “…See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck,” Genesis 41:39-42.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” -2 Cor. 4:17.

God makes a clear distinction and reward for those who honour His word. His word is a guide with which we are to overcome challenges and achieve lasting success. Challenges are not meant to drown you out; they are designed as tools for destiny fulfilment.

“Circumstances and crises are God’s tools to move you into your purpose…” Dr. Myles Munroe.

Greatness beckons to you…‘don’t give in, don’t give up; keep moving on the right track – you will fulfil destiny!’

I would love to hear from you; @yemidavids, pastoryemi@globalimpactng.org or visit www,globalimpactng.org or The Goodland, Ifako bustop along Ogudu-Oworo expressway, Lagos.

@Globalimpactng
See you next week!