Day 20: Genesis 44:1:1-47:28
Forgiveness is often not our way, but it is always God's way. Grudge holding weighs us down. Hurtful words get stuck in our memory. Lies told about us are etched in our head as a reminder that we can never trust that person again.
Joseph demonstrated that time has a way of healing the wounded heart and forgiveness is possible when God mends the heart that has been hurt by someone you truly love.
When Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 45:4-5, "'Come close to me.' When the brothers came close to him, he said to them, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold as a slave to go to Egypt. Now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me here ahead of you to save people’s lives." proves that a man whose heart loves more and forgives often will be happier and more content in life.
Joseph's display of forgiveness is a testimony of his relationship with God and love for family. He didn't live his life focused on the past and he didn't keep records of wrongs done to him; rather he used his past to shape him into the leader he ultimately became.
1st Corinthians 13 says that love keeps no records of wrong. and Ephesians 4:32 say to "Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ."
Forgiving someone will do more for the forgiver than for the one receiving the forgiveness. When we stop dragging around all the past hurts, pain from others and sins that someone has committed against us, then we will be free from the load that keeps us wrapped us in the past. It's time to unload the baggage and forgive...you need it and they need it!
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