We must remember that God wants us to hate sin and run away from
it, no matter how common it may be. - P109
The apostle Paul instructs usto "be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil"
(Rom. 16:19). - P109
We are to have childlike hearts, recognizing how even the most common sins can
hurt and destroy. - P109
And when we see thedangers of sin, let us run to our Father for protection and be watchfulin prayer. - P109
Dear Father, lead me in Your righteousness and watch over my steps that Imay not fall into the traps of the enemy. - P109
Help me to remain vigilant and not becomplacent with sin, knowing that in You I can find forgiveness and cleansingfrom all unrighteousness. In Jesus‘ name, amen - P109
Grow in grace. You would be hard-pressed to find a better three-word captionfor the Christian life. It stems from a single text at the end of Peter‘s second letter:
"Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and loseyour own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and SaviorJesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:17-18, ESV). - P174
We pick up a how of this growth in grace, or a main ingredient. Peter calls it "thepure spiritual milk." What our Bibles have as chapter 2 flows immediately fromthe end of chapter 1, which makes the reference of "pure spiritual milk" plain:
"the living and abiding word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23, ESV). - P175
First, just two verses later, Peter says, "This word is the good news that waspreached to you" (1 Pet. 1:25, ESV). First and foremost, "the pure spiritualmilk" by which we grow in grace is what we know as "the gospel"-the messageof God‘s goodness toward us in Christ. - P175
Despite our sin and endless failings, Godhas shown us love, and made a way for us to be right with Him, through thesacrificial death and triumphant resurrection of His own Son. In Jesus, God isfully and finally for us. - P175
26 Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if wekill our brother and cover up his blood?
27 Come, let‘s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not layour hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our ownflesh and blood." His brothers agreed. - P110
28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, hisbrothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and soldhim for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, whotook him to Egypt. - P110
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth andmourned for his son many days.
35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him,
but he refused to be comforted. "No," he said, "I willcontinue to mourn until I join my son in the grave." Sohis father wept for him.
- P111
36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt toPotiphar, one of Pharaoh‘s officials, the captain of theguard.
where they sold Joseph to - P111
Joseph‘s brothers sit down to have a meal, seemingly untroubled by thewickedness they are committing on account of their jealousy. - P112
A caravanof traders passes by, and Judah proposes to sell Joseph, reasoning thatthey might as well make some profit while getting rid of their brother. - P112
It might seem like pure luck that the Ishmaelites pass by at just that mo-ment, but we know that God is working out His plan to save Joseph‘slife. - P112
Even when the decisions of human beings are bent on evil anddriven by personal gain, let us remember that no event falls outside ofGod‘s control. - P112
In God‘s eyes, there are no lucky coincidences. All thingsare ordained by His invisible hand. - P112
Though Reuben had intended to save Joseph, he discovers that hisbrothers have already sold him. - P112
In order to protect themselves andcover up their sin, the brothers dive deeper into deception. - P112
DippingJoseph‘s cloak in goat‘s blood brings devastation not only to Jacob butalso upon the whole family as they cannot comfort their grieving father. - P112
They clearly did not think this far ahead when they decided to sell offtheir brother for twenty shekels of silver. - P112
Sin might promise immediategratification but later produces consequences that can easily spiral outof control. - P112
Let us be careful not to underestimate the damage that sincan inflict-especially upon the people closest to us. - P112
Father, thank you for making me alive in Christ. - P113
I was helpless and dead in mysins, but You saved me so that I can now desire God and live a truly abundantlife. - P113
Help me to choose Your ways daily. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P113
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