We are sinful, so following God’s ways in this life is not easy. Each day we battle between following the Lord’s guidance or our sinful nature. You may be struggling today with which choice to make. The good news is that through faith in Jesus, the Lord gives us the compass of the Holy Spirit to help overcome our sinful desires.
Jesus loves you and wants to work in your life to help you be an overcomer. Although we still have times of failure along our faith journey, we can ask the Lord to forgive us and begin again. Our day does not have to end with the guilt of sin because we can confess our sins to God and receive forgiveness. God desires that we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. Where is the Lord speaking to you to follow His ways? If you feel the Lord talking to you about a specific area in your life, this is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph’s Brothers Followed Their Way
Joseph’s brothers hated him and eventually put their feelings into action. They sold their brother into slavery. This was not God’s way, yet the Lord worked through their sin. Genesis 45:4 “Please, come closer,” Joseph said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.[1]
How would Joseph’s brothers’ lives have been different if they had not hated their brother? Yes, the Lord brought good out of this situation, but causing pain and suffering to others is never God’s plan or desire.
Choose to Follow Jesus’ Example
Paul calls his fellow believers in Jesus to imitate Him to live up to the character of God’s family. Ephesians 5:1Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. [2] To imitate is to watch and follow as the sheep watch the shepherd. This is what loving Jesus is all about.
Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life for us. Meditating on that motivates us to be thankful and strive to be like Him. As you imitate Jesus, think of all the people you can influence for the Kingdom. Ponder how you have been impacted by those who were Christ-like examples. John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”[3]
To learn more about following God’s ways, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/joseph-reveals-his-identity
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.