Scripture: Genesis 42.

1. God Uses Hard Things to Shape Us

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2. Sin Always has a Cost Romans

6:23a (ESV)

23a For the wages of sin is death…Numbers 32:23 (ESV)

23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.

3. Only Jesus is Perfect

Mark 10:18 (ESV)
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

4. Sometimes the Cost of Sin is a Missed or Delayed Blessing

Hebrews 3:18-19 (ESV)
18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19  So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Psalm 66:18 (ESV)
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Proverbs 28:13 (ESV)
13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

1 John 2:1-2 (ESV)

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.