The Life that Points to Christ

“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem” (Acts 7:9-16).

The Holy Spirit inspired Stephen to remind the council about Joseph. As a young man he was sold into slavery in the foreign land of Egypt… “but God was with him… and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh”. Later, as a ruler in Egypt, Joseph would summon his father and his family to come from the land of famine and death into a land of abundance and life. God’s grace was at work in all the ups and downs of Joseph’s life. The same grace is at work in us today, creating in us the same kind of new, Christ-like life we see here in Joseph… “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:28-29). In the details of Stephen’s reflection on Joseph, we are encouraged by the grace that is at work in every area of our lives, forming in us the life that points to Christ.

Jesus entered into our fallen world. I am amazed that Christ left heaven and entered into the brokenness of my fallen world to save me… “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). As we mature in the faith and in our fellowship with Him, we are challenged by the Spirit of Christ that lives in us to enter into the messy, broken lives of the lost and hurting that surround us. It’s where He wants to be, and He wants us to be there with Him too.

Jesus rules over our fallen world. When we follow Christ into the tough lives of others, our awareness of His presence increases… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). In the brokenness and hurt of the lives of sinners He reveals Himself as Savior and Lord by exercising His authority through us… “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19). As we know Him better, our faith in His power increases and we see Christ’s rule manifest over the enemy as we exercise His authority in serving others.

Jesus summons us from our fallen world. Stephen’s testimony reminded the council that after revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph summoned his whole family to come from the land of famine and death into the land of abundance and life. What a beautiful reminder that the primary reason Christ left heaven and entered our fallen world is to seek and to save the lost… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Christ in us compels us to summon the lost in our world to come to Him to receive new, abundant life… “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). As we grow in Christ, we reflect the peace and joy of our new abundant life to the lost and searching around us.

As we grow up into Christ, His grace works in us to make us more like Him so we can show the world…

The Life that Points to Christ.