Twice Fruitful

I had a visit one day from a woman who told me God wanted her to be a pastor. She went on to tell me that she had spent sixteen years in prison for robbery. She was married to a man who stole from convenience stores to support his habit, and she helped him. She didn’t try to hide the fact that she had done wrong. While in prison, she found the Lord, and now that she was released, she wanted to not only repent but to give her life to serving God. During the next 18 months she met with the district committee on ministry and convinced not only me but the whole committee that this calling was real. Today she serves a local church, preaches every Sunday and is obeying her call to preach.

God has a way of bringing good out of situations where hope seems lost. Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely accused and sent to prison where he was forgotten for years. God restored him and gave him authority directly under Pharaoh. He was able to save lives, even the lives of his brothers who abandoned him.

While in Egypt, he married and had children. He named the second one Ephraim, which means “twice fruitful.” Genesis 41:52 says, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

The story of the woman becoming a preacher after spending 16 years in prison and the story of Joseph share a common truth. There may be 4,000 years between the two storie,  but they point to the same truth. No matter who we are or what we have done, we can be forgiven and used by God. Our Savior’s love and power never change, and God is always faithful to those who trust Him. God is calling each of us to be Twice Fruitful!

Prayer: All-powerful God, nothing is too hard for you. Thank you for your faithfulness!

Genesis 41:49 – “Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea.”

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Image: Canva