Getting Schooled and Seeing Through Life’s Problems

Our whole community knows school is back in session! Everyday in classrooms, students are going to wrestle with why they need apply themselves to their studies and work through the homework problems. A typical "teacher answer" shares simple wisdom: "Someday you are going to need to know this." About 3,500 years ago, there was a man who clung to this wisdom as he clung to God with faith through all his life's problems: Joseph.

Last week, from the life of Joseph, we made tracks on the first two of five important lessons God reveals about seeing Him through life's problems.

We saw that we can see God through this problem: when others disapprove of our Godly purpose. Joseph was greatly misunderstood because others, especially his brothers, were jealous because they had turned a blind eye to God's purpose for their own lives. Christ followers have a higher calling than others, and the world is going to try and pull us down from that calling. It's not that we are more special. We are all recipients of God's grace, but when we respond to God's grace, God is able to reveal His Word of truth to us, so we can partner with Him in His holy work. Have God's purposes be yours.

Then we glanced at the fact that we can see God through a second problem: when others take advantage of our Godly character. Joseph endured life's schooling on a roller-coaster of twists, turns, and even a few loops! He was a favored son who ended up as a slave. Then he was a promoted servant leading the business and personal affairs of one of Egypt's top leaders whose name was Potiphar. Then he found himself in prison because Potiphar's wife used Joseph and his character as a tool of manipulation and power for herself that was full of lies.

Jesus speaks to this subject with verses we would sometimes rather ignore or scratch from the Canon of Scripture. He says things, such as, loving our enemies and doing good to those which hate us. He adds that we should even bless those who despitefully use us. Those things may sound easy until you have to do them! (Yes, it's still in the Bible--see Luke 6:27-29.) Those are very hard things--impossible things--to do if you do not see God through the problems you face in these kinds of relationships.

Let God's character shine through your life. Being a Christian means being different.

When you consider these problems, you might think that Joseph would have given up. Thankfully, he did not! I am looking forward to sharing the last three lessons tomorrow morning at our 10:30 service.

We anticipate continued and new opportunities to serve you and our community as the fall approaches, so I hope you will check out our Sunday services (9:30am Sunday school and 10:30am celebration service) and Wednesday Bible studies (7pm) for you and others to connect and grow. Please be praying the construction of the Family Life & Education Building goes well!

Invite others to come with you and to hear of God's love and purpose for them.

If you have one more moment, please read on for a short word.

As you participate, worship, and serve with our church and ministry family, you will begin noticing a tweak we've made to remind all of us that "We are recipients of God's grace serving recipients of God's grace." We have been unfolding what that looks like and are adopting this in everything we do.

If you observe someone representing Christ well by their service, have a suggestion, a question, or a way we can better serve you or others, please reply or comment via a Connecting Card to let me know.

Thank you for reading! Have a blessed weekend!

As always, I desire to be a friend and help to you, so please reach back to me.

In Christ,
Pastor Dennis Schaffer
Open Door Baptist Church | Academy | Childcare Center