Genesis 39:5-6a (NLT) From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

Many times our focus as Christians is that God would bless us so that we can be a blessing to others, and that is a good focus. It is good to want to be used by God to bless others. But did you ever stop to think that many times God blesses others so that they will bless you? That was the case with Joseph. Although Joseph found himself in one bad situation after another, the Lord was right there with him. God would bless wherever Joseph was because He was watching out for him through it all. While God was using the circumstances of his life to draw him close to Himself and to form a heart in him like His own, He was also causing blessings to flow where Joseph was so that he would gain favor with the people that were over him. He blessed Potiphar's house and possessions because of Joseph. Potiphar knew that his good fortune was somehow due to this young man that he had purchased as a slave, and he put him in charge of everything. Then when Joseph wound up in jail, the Lord blessings followed. Even a place like an Egyptian prison was blessed for Joseph's sake! The warden, like Potiphar, knew that it was because of this special young man that he had no more worries about anything regarding the jail because he had put Joseph in charge and Joseph was taking care of everything. He showed great favor to Joseph because of this.

Did you know that God can bless your place of employment simply because you, who are one of His children, are there? God will bless the owner of the establishment where you work just so that you will find favor. But that's providing that like Joseph, you remain faithful to God and trust Him instead of complaining about your circumstances. Think of how you feel about the sports team that your child is involved with. Don't you root for that team and even provide snacks for the other team members just because your child is a part of that team? Don't you try to help out with any needs that the team may have such as providing transportation for other team members if needed? You do all of that for one reason: for the sake of your child and so that your child will find favor with the coach and the other team members. If that is the way that we are with our children, why would you be surprised that God would arrange to bless others that have influence in your life just so that you will have favor with them?  The Lord is constantly watching over us and many times, we don't even know it. God blesses you in many ways, and one of them is by blessing others just for your sake.

Pastor Joey Vazquez