What hope do we have when evil seems to thwart the goodness of God? Can there be true light in darkness? The Bible teaches that God is sovereign and good even over the evil acts of men. But this is not just a lofty doctrine that we know is true. This doctrine affects the way in which we live and the way in which we go about our mission.

Not many of us will have a biography written about us. But we still should consider the question, what will I be remembered for? Judah's story is filled with moral failure and short comings, but by the grace of God, he made progress. His biography is about progress. We too, after we are declared righteous in His sight and by the power of the Holy Spirit in us, ought to strive for progress!

Easter cannot be toned down. It is a celebration of facts. These facts changed the future and hope of humanity. It is in these facts, in this defiant declaration of the resurrection that we have any hope at all.

Joseph was living in 2 Kingdoms but he never lost sight that he was a citizen of one. His name would be remembered not by his power in Egypt but by God's power working in him. What is in our name? Where is our identity? Like Joseph, our identity comes from where we hold our citizenship - of which Kingdom are you a citizen? The world or the Kingdom of God?

The temptation to sin is relentless. By default, the human condition is predisposed to protect, gratify and preserve self. But Jesus offers a better way to live in the Kingdom. In the story of Joseph we learn essential principles about how one can resist temptation.

There are times in our lives when we just don't understand what God is doing. We can only see a few things when God is really up to millions of things. He is always moving us toward redemption. God is always watching us, always working in us, and will ultimately win us for Himself.

There are so many things and so many reasons that call us to hold onto this world and to find our joy in the here and now. The message of the world is to find peace and joy in the finite and broken things that this world has to offer. But the message of the Bible is that God has something so much greater for us in mind. The only way to obtain what God is freely giving is to strive for the narrow door of the Kingdom. The striving is a letting go of the call of the world and holding on to the call of the Gospel.

This sermon was preached by Jim Weaver formerly of Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Middletown, DE.

Jacob had plans. He would run for his life and wait out the fury of his brother Esau. He had stolen the blessing and received the covenant promise from his dad. But God had other plans. God met Jacob when he least expected it and the fugitive would become a pilgrim. God showed Jacob a new reality of what life would be like in the Kingdom he would bring to this earth.