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God Meant It for Good
Those who receive God’s message of life and understand His good purpose can stay calm in any situation and entrust everything to Him.
Genesis 50:19–21:
“Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
Joseph’s greatness did not lie in his position as Egypt’s ruler or his intelligence. It lay in his ability to forgive his brothers who had once sold him into slavery, causing him thirteen years of hardship.
People often forget those who are kind to them but remember those who offend them, sometimes planning revenge for a lifetime. Joseph did not hold a grudge because he saw that everything he experienced was part of God’s good plan. Instead of getting back at his brothers, he chose to treat them and their families kindly.
When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he said something moving that is worth our reflection: “And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you” (Genesis 45:5). This is a wise outlook— “you sold me” and “God sent me” are two very different ways of seeing the same event. Joseph understood God’s arrangement and good plan, so he didn’t dwell on his brothers’ wrongdoing. He trusted that God’s will was good; otherwise things wouldn’t have turned out as they did. Since it was God’s will, it didn’t matter whether human motives were good or evil—God would still fulfill His plan and bring blessings to those who love Him.
In our life of faith, we should pray for God to change our perspective so we can accept all His arrangements, rather than asking Him to change His will. A Christian with strong faith who knows that everything has God’s good purpose may face difficulties physically, but still experiences deep joy and peace (Philippians 4:4–7).
Though life may bring troubles, if we learn from Joseph’s example and believe all our experiences come from God’s good plan, we can stay thankful, learn to obey, and fulfill His will. Entrust everything to God, rely fully on Him rather than our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways. Then He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Come and learn more about the Doctrine through bible study, sermons and fellowship. We warmly invite you to our upcoming Spring Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC) to discover how we can ensure a lasting spiritual legacy. Come, bring your family, and let’s run this race together in faith!
You can also join us for the Spring 2025 ESSC via online streaming.
Thursday, April 17, 2025 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, 2025 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, April 20, 2025 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Please find our church location below:
4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
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In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.
Friday Evening Service: 7:50PM – 9:00PM
Saturday Morning Service: 10:50AM – 12:00Noon
Saturday Afternoon Service: 1:30PM – 2:40PM
Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org