This week I had the opportunity to go to the Men’s Advance in Stillwater. This year’s theme was on my favorite Bible character- Joseph. Do you realize the Bible has no negative comment about Joseph? Joseph was a man who lived right with God, through any circumstance! He did not let his environment dictate how he was gong to act. Did you read that? I am going to say it again:
He did not let his environment dictate how he was going to act.
Pastor Wayne Hardy made the comment that “our actions need to be because of an internal Spirit, not an external circumstance.” That means that you should do what is right because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you…not because the people around you are telling you to. For instance, do you come to church because you know it is what God commands (Spirit)? Or do you come to church because your parents/ wife/ husband makes you (Circumstance/Environment) ? Do you read your Bible because you want to grow in the Lord (Spirit)? Are you praying because of a bad situation in your life (Environment) ? See Joseph was a great man because he did what was right. He did right because he walked with the Lord. He did not do what was right because people were making him. In fact he had every opportunity to do what was wrong, yet he stuck it out. So if your whole world changed…and you were allowed to do anything you wanted…how many things would you stop doing? How many things would you do that you know are wrong?
I encourage you this week to have integrity. Do what is right regardless of your environment.
Finally! We had a week of sunshine…I love it. It is ridiculous how often the weather changes around here. I really need a tan though, so I am glad it is finally starting to heat up (I say that until I have to start doing yard work again).