Many of you will remember the story of Joseph – that is Joseph with the coat of many colors. Or, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat – if you saw the Broadway Musical. You may remember that he was betrayed by his brothers, and sold into slavery. Somehow he ascends to a place of great power in Egypt, and God uses him in this new place. Many years later, his brothers come to Egypt looking for food in the midst of a famine. Joseph confronts them. However, in spite of their betrayal, he forgives them.

I’ve looked at this story from several angles over the years, but as I reflect on it today, I think what strikes me most is Joseph’s statement to his brothers: “Even though you intended to harm me, God intended it for good…”

It’s a remarkable statement. It reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s statement, “All things work together for good for those who love God…”

Is it possible that God is at work in all things – even horrific things bringing about something good?

I think about some of my friends who lost their family business during the last big recession in 2008… It had been in their family for years. They had two kids still in high school at that time, and the loss was just devastating. They were worried about losing their home. They were worried about how they were going to make ends meet. I remember how heart-wrenching it was.

But looking back, God did move in their lives during that time. God did bring about something new. My friend tells me that this whole experience brought them together as a family. They bonded in ways they never could have imagined. And, they began to experience a whole new level of gratitude for the gifts they did have.

It wasn’t too long after that, that my friend enrolled in seminary. I went to his ordination service a few years ago, and today, he’s serving as a pastor. Their lives, out of this destruction, took a whole new direction.

I wonder if there have been events in your life that seemed so devastating in the moment, but that on looking back, you can see that something new; something good – maybe even something beautiful came out of it… Maybe not what you planned, not what you expected, but beautiful nonetheless.

Let us pray: We pray, gracious God, that even amid the devastating moments in our own lives, your Spirit would move anew. We ask for healing, redemption, and the ability to see light beyond the darkness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

There’s an old apocryphal story about a boy named John who entered his first science fair in second grade. His Mom had a green thumb, so they decided to experiment with the growth of plants. They took two small green plants and placed one on a sunny windowsill and the other in a cardboard box. After a couple of weeks, John noticed that the one on the windowsill had grown a couple of inches and had vibrant green leaves. The other in the box had actually grown a bit, but it had lost all of its green color, becoming almost white and its leaves were drooping. Thinking that the plant might die, John cut a hole in one side of the box. He set the box, with the plant inside, by the windowsill with the hole facing toward the incoming light. 

Of course, we can all imagine exactly what happened. Over the next couple of weeks, the plant began to grow out through the hole. A few weeks later, it even blossomed! 

The truth is, we all need light in our lives. 

Jesus once said, “I am the light of the world.”

It’s worth considering: where do you find Jesus’ light shining most brightly? Are there certain people who radiate that light? Is it through time volunteering, time at church, moments of quiet, or moments of action? It is worth paying attention to those spaces and people where Jesus’ light shines brightly. And may you carve out time to sit in that light so that you might grow and even blossom. 

Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you for the way your light shines even into the darkest times in our lives. We thank you for the people we know and love who reflect the light of Christ. It is in his name we pray. Amen.

In his book, Deep-Rooted in Christ, Joshua Kang wrote, “The abundant life comes when we live a life of mission; a life that serves others has meaning and purpose.” Kang further encourages us to reflect on our lives and to evaluate them based not based on their length, or by how face-paced they are, but by their content.

Even secular philosophers like Will Durant remind us that to give life meaning, one must have a purpose larger than oneself. 

There is something about reaching out to help others that gives meaning and significance to our own life. There is something about caring for others that brings healing to our souls. That’s part of how God created us. In the words of Genesis, we have been blessed to be a blessing to others!

Our prayer today comes out of the Presbyterian Common Book of Worship. Let us pray: Everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being: You have made us for yourself so that our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Give us purity of heart and strength of purpose that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, no weakness keep us from doing it; that in your light we may see light clearly, and in your service find perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Yesterday I reflected on the letter of 1 John (1:8-9) we read, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” In other words, be careful not to deny your own need for God’s grace. Because what happens when we deny our need?

One: If you think you have to be perfect, there is a temptation to role play: to act like everything is going fine even when it’s not. If you have to act like everything is perfect, then the first things to go out the window are honesty and vulnerability. These are the very things that make human relationships possible. 

Second, It is very difficult to have grace and compassion for others if we don’t recognize our own need for God’s grace and compassion. There is a real temptation to judge others. There is a real temptation to decide who’s in, and who’s out, who’s acceptable, and who’s unacceptable, and who is worthy of God’s grace. Who is unworthy?

Yesterday, I quoted Eugene Peterson’s book, The Way of Jesus. Peterson goes on to write, “Perfectionism: a (terrible) deviation from the way… of Jesus. It is unlikely that it will plunge us headlong into damnation, but it certainly makes us most undesirable company with others on the… way… (Any) attempt to impose perfection on either oneself or another, whether parent on child, pastor on congregation, CEO on a company, teacher on student, husband on wife, wife on husband is decidedly not the way of Jesus.” 

Finally, he writes this: “…perfection is not an option but a seduction…”

Sometimes we get this idea of the “perfect church” in our minds: just the right mix of ages; perfect music; perfect pastor; everyone gets along. When I was preparing to take my first call, I was looking for the perfect church, and my friend Rusty said, “Hey Joe if you find it, you better not go there because sure as you show up – you’ll ruin it for all those other perfect people!” He was right!

There’s no such thing as a perfect church, just as there’s no such thing as a perfect family. This is the case simply because there’s no such thing as a perfect person.

May you and I, as we strive to follow Jesus, as we strive to get it right, as we strive to do the right things and say the right things, may we never lose sight of his grace. There is grace enough for you and for me. May we share that grace with a world desperately in need. 

Let us pray: Wash over us again with your grace, O God. Help us to accept and love ourselves and others as you love us; through Jesus our savior. Amen. 

Today’s message was written by Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

A young woman stood before Beethoven’s piano in a Vienna museum. Presently she struck a few discordant notes. “I suppose,” she said to an attendant, “that many noted musicians have inspected this instrument.” “Oh, yes,” replied the man. “Recently Paderewski was here.” “Paderewski!” exclaimed the visitor. “Certainly, he must have played something wonderful.” “On the contrary, he did not feel worthy to touch it.” 

Friend of Dial Hope, wherever you are, this very moment – in a hospital bed, driving to work, your home, your place of business, a payphone, a helicopter over Iraq – you are on holy ground. It is holy because God is with you! Whether your heart is smiling or sad, whether you are lonely or afraid, whether you are hurting, whether you are celebrating – God is as close to you as breathing, nearer than hands or feet. Remember, God loves you just the way you are, but God refuses to leave you there. God wants you to have a heart like his. God wants you to be just like Jesus. Let today be a day filled with joy, hope, and contagious enthusiasm. 

Let us pray: God of love, we await the miracle of your grace in this time of prayer. Change the chemistry of our doubts and discouragements into a willingness to live the venture of faith. Give us the spontaneous emotion of a child of faith. In the name of the risen Christ. Amen.