God's Plan, God's Path

A summary from Sunday's sermon (Genesis 39:1-23):

The future Joseph envisioned for himself was not the plan God had in mind for him. Joseph saw himself as lording over his family. But God had an altogether different destination in mind: servant-leadership not overlord-leadership. God also had a path of His choosing and design to take Joseph to that destination. Even though the path God had for Joseph was marked with adversity and suffering, it was the path marked by the Lord's presence, kindness, and His blessings of success and favor with others.

God has a future in mind for each of us too, and a path of His choosing and design to get there. Often the path God intends for us to take is not the one we have marked out for ourselves or that we have already begun to walk. Whatever the future we might think God has for us, our first concern about the path we are on is not that we can see the end, but rather that it is a path marked by: (1) our heart-deep trust in the Lord; (2) our reliance on Him and His understanding of where we are in relation to the fulfillment of His plan; and (3) His presence. See Proverbs 3:5-6.

Application:

1. Evaluate your relationships with others at work, home, school, church, etc., by the standard of servant-leadership. Ask: what do I need to do differently to pursue God's best for those around me? In reference to conflict, ask: what do I need to do differently to pursue God's best for those with whom I am in conflict? Note: Seeking God's best for others in the central feature of servant-leadership.


2. Examine the path you are on in life (generally or in relation to a specific situation). Ask: Am I head for the destination of God's choosing? Am I on the path of God's design? Ask these questions to help you determine if you are on the path of God's choosing headed for the destination of God's choosing:


a. Am I sensing and showing heart-deep trust in the Lord?
b. Am I sensing and showing reliance on Him?
c. Am I demanding to understand everything that is happening to me? Or am I willing to embrace the possibility of purposes and plans higher than what I am able to comprehend presently?
d. Am I sensing His presence and resources?
e. Am I willingly suffering through adversity, believing it is more important to be right with God than it is to find relief or to gain in any way from displeasing Him?