Genesis 50:9

Excellence. We all want it. We want to be viewed as capable. We want to be recognized for our work. But what does excellence really take? Joseph’s story shows us how to work with God as the source of excellence, in both good times and bad.

Even when our circumstances seem like they are going to defeat us, God is at work. The story of Joseph makes this clear, and examining his life helps us understand what it looks like for our own lives to be devoted to and guided by the Lord. Take this five-day study to see how God’s sovereign providence is always working to bring good out of evil.

In this small group study Dr. Tony Evans uses the epic faith, life, and career of Joseph to teach that God is more interested in your development than your arrival. Like Joseph, a kidnapped and enslaved boy who grew up to save an empire, the obstacles and obstructions in your life can lead to real accomplishments. Granted, detours are anything but convenient. They take you out of the way. They are longer than you originally had planned to travel. But they are necessary. God allows detours in your life because He cares more for your character than your comfort, more for your purity than your productivity. He cares about your destiny!

Corrie came from a Bible-believing family. The Bible had a central place in their lives. The Living Word of God: the Lord Jesus Christ, spoke to them through the written Word of God. They read the Bible on a daily basis and knew many Bible verses by heart. These devotionals may help you to see the significance and application of these verses in your own life as well.