While a student in 'Preacher School' many years ago, a guest speaker said something that we young preachers were very pleased to hear. In a sermon dealing with personal devotion, he said, with great conviction, this statement: "God will never use someone who has sin in their lives." We almost cheered! We were young and enthusiastic and often encountered people struggling in their battle against sin. We wanted to preach the truth, and at that very early stage in our ministry, we all wanted to confront sinners and...
While a student in 'Preacher School' many years ago, a guest speaker said something that we young preachers were very pleased to hear. In a sermon dealing with personal devotion, he said, with great conviction, this statement: "God will never use someone who has sin in their lives." We almost cheered! We were young and enthusiastic and often encountered people struggling in their battle against sin. We wanted to preach the truth, and at that very early stage in our ministry, we all wanted to confront sinners and challenge them in their sins. But then, as I had time to think about that statement, it occurred to me – That statement wasn't true! I wanted to believe that God would punish sin. I tried to lead people to reject their sinful lives and follow Jesus, but it occurred to me: If God would not use people with sin in their lives, who would He use? Everyone has sin in their lives!
The more I read and studied, the more I realized that God was working to bring about His will in many ways – but God's ways always included Him working through the lives of sinful people! Of course, they were doing their best, but their best sometimes wasn't very good. God used them anyway! Others were not trying to live with faith at all, yet God used even them!
Many stories in the scriptures teach us this truth. The story of Joseph is one such story. Joseph was Jacob's twelfth son and was his father's favorite. He swaggered around, harassing his brothers, and would often 'snitch' on them when they did something their father would not like. Joseph even detailed his dreams that showed that his family would bow down to him in the coming years. It was unbearable for the brothers! Finally, they could take it no more. They sold him into slavery, made up a story to cover their evil, and forgot all about him. This is where Joseph's story takes a turn!
Joseph went from being a slave to being a respected house steward and then to prison on false charges of rape. He ended up managing the jail and demonstrated an ability to interpret dreams. After several years, he ended up in front of Pharoah, the Egyptian king, who helped him make sense of some bizarre dreams he had been having. After explaining things to Pharoah, the King placed Joseph in charge of the whole nation's food supply – it was almost miraculous! Finally, as an end to the story, Joseph's family came to Egypt for food during a drought. He recognized them, of course, and forgave them for their evil against him. They brought the entire family to live in Egypt and came to know and love Joseph. God blessed them with many children and a huge extended family. This was the beginning of the Israelites in Egypt, from which came the Exodus experience centuries later.
God used this long story, with its many twists and turns, to form his people and bring about the nation of Israel! Think about the list of characters that God used: Joseph's jealous brothers, Egyptian slave owners and a lustful, lying woman, criminals in prison, and, finally, the leader of a pagan nation; sinners all but used God to bring about His will!
God is sovereign. He uses everything at his disposal to bring about His plan and never gives up.
He uses people who sin – people like you and me, every day. Nothing can stop Him!
Let me encourage you to place your faith in the God who loves you as you are and will use you to do His great will. Joseph and his family discovered that God has a plan for every situation and wants us to be involved, even when we are imperfect!
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