Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Lent: Time for Reconciliation
Justin Mathew
St. John's MTC, NY
5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves,
because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Tossed in a hole, Betrayed, and sold as a slave not by some stranger, but
your own siblings. Would you forgive them? Should you forgive them?
Reconciliation is the action of reestablishing a close relationship that was broken.
A woman one day talked on the radio about how her and her husband were going to have a divorce because her husband told her that he had an affair with another woman. She spoke to everyone and even her pastor said to get a divorce. She prayed to God and decided to forgive her husband for his past wrongs and not get a divorce and their marriage grew much stronger.
C.S Lewis once said, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” If I were this lady I would divorce the man and never look back just like most people. But, forgiveness is easier said than done.
Joseph even though suffered many years, and was thrown into a different culture and country he never gave up his relationship with God.
Joseph did test his brothers because he wanted to see if they changed their ways. Joseph to his shock realized that his brothers had change because they were willing to take Benjamin’s place in prison. Seeing this change he was willing to reveal himself and make amends with his brothers.
People may wrong you but based on the key verse up top, that hardship could lead a new path, a better path. Joseph was sold to Egypt and ended up becoming second in command and saving many lives from famine.
In this passage it shows that God is in control no matter what your plans may be. What Joseph’s brothers did with evil intentions in the end it fulfilled God’s great plan for Israel.
Brother and sisters of Christ, if Joseph can forgive his brothers and our Savior Jesus Christ can forgive us then why not us for others?
Reconciliation is the action of reestablishing a close relationship that was broken.
A woman one day talked on the radio about how her and her husband were going to have a divorce because her husband told her that he had an affair with another woman. She spoke to everyone and even her pastor said to get a divorce. She prayed to God and decided to forgive her husband for his past wrongs and not get a divorce and their marriage grew much stronger.
C.S Lewis once said, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” If I were this lady I would divorce the man and never look back just like most people. But, forgiveness is easier said than done.
Joseph even though suffered many years, and was thrown into a different culture and country he never gave up his relationship with God.
Joseph did test his brothers because he wanted to see if they changed their ways. Joseph to his shock realized that his brothers had change because they were willing to take Benjamin’s place in prison. Seeing this change he was willing to reveal himself and make amends with his brothers.
People may wrong you but based on the key verse up top, that hardship could lead a new path, a better path. Joseph was sold to Egypt and ended up becoming second in command and saving many lives from famine.
In this passage it shows that God is in control no matter what your plans may be. What Joseph’s brothers did with evil intentions in the end it fulfilled God’s great plan for Israel.
Brother and sisters of Christ, if Joseph can forgive his brothers and our Savior Jesus Christ can forgive us then why not us for others?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Help us
to have the courage to forgive others. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
-CS.
LEWIS “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”