“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.
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