Joseph ran into a streak of bad luck. First his jealous brothers tossed him into a hole, then they sold him to a band of slavers headed to Egypt. One minute the favored son, the next a slave slopping chamber pots.

It took years for Joseph to see anything good come from his circumstances. But over the years a plan a emerged. After gaining a position of massive influence, and saving both Egyptians and his own people from famine, Joseph told his brothers, You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.

But Joseph couldn’t see any of this from the pit. He guessed nothing of the good to come. Trudging along in a slaver’s caravan, sold into the household of a craven woman, and imprisoned for being a man of principle took Joseph from bad to worse. Not until that day standing before Pharaoh did he glimpse the hand of the Lord behind his misfortunes.

I wonder where the hand of the Lord might be hidden behind actions I find troubling? What situations might God turn evil intentions into good results?

Joseph dealt with cruelty, maliciousness and abandonment. Prison brought hunger and cold and beatings. From the bottom of that pit nothing looked possible. But with God all things are possible. Hang on long enough, and his goodness might just appear.

Genesis 50:20

Photo by Nacho Díaz Latorre

Leo Tolstoy, the brilliant Russian novelist, spoke of how people love to criticize others, but fail to take a hard look within:

In our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.

In contrast, the apostle Paul offered a drastic shift: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

As Tolstoy alluded, we change humanity by changing ourselves. Then as Paul underlined, we change ourselves by allowing Jesus Christ to overtake our lives. No feigned commitment, crucified signifies all in. God’s gotta to mess us up.

Perhaps this seems simplistic, but I find it hard to change my perspective on life and how to live it without God’s help. I’ve seen others try and fall short. With such a high failure rate, it’s worth considering one solution that actually works.

Galatians 2:20

Photo by Markus Spiske

Washing our hands in soap and water remains the best way to avoid the germs that make us ill. I read recently that this simple procedure is even better than hand sanitizer. If you want clean hands, then wash them.

David wrote of clean hands as we approach the Lord. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

David paired clean hands with a pure heart. It’s not enough to simply look good on the outside, but my life should express a heart that’s attuned to the ways of the Lord. Engaging with his teachings and practicing his ways are required.

I’m daily tempted to lift my soul to what is false. Distorted ideas soil my hands. Using people to my own ends, equating wealth with happiness, elevating self over others, and conveniently ignoring the less palatable portions of the Bible come to mind. Plenty of falsehoods pull at my soul.

The Lord, however, demands allegiance. Not perfection, but loyalty and commitment as we struggle our way up his hill. As we dirty our hands he allows us to wash them again and again.

How to clean ourselves? The Scriptures form the soap and water of our soul. Apply generously, rinse and repeat.

Psalm 24

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya

My book GO: Following Jesus to the Ends of the Earth in now available on Audible (click on the link to take you to the Audible website).

The narrator did a fabulous job (way better than I could have done). I’m grateful for his work and skill in presenting my ideas through his voice. He makes for a good listen.

The book contains reflections on the Lordship of Christ, the Great Commission, and a life of adventure and eternal significance. Anyone considering a mission trip, who knows missionaries, or prays for missionaries, or is just curious about missions will enjoy the book. I hope you’ll check it out.