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Friday, May 25, 2018

Forgiveness

 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.Genesis 50:20 (ESV)

Summarize in a Word: Forgiveness
Key Principle: Forgiveness is an issue of God-likeness, not an issue of Circumstances.
Key Application: We must forgive unconditionally.
Main point of the Passage: No matter what evil and good things happen to us, all things strengthen us to be more Godlike when we recognize God’s plan transcends Man’s Plan.
Illustration: Joseph’s Attitude
Exhortation: Put not your eyes on your brother’s sins, but on the goodness of God.

Forgiveness is what we desire from others, but not an easy virtue to exercise upon others. It looks more difficult when wrong is done intentionally by people who are close to us. Sometimes, we wait for their repentance or apologies to forgive them. Can we just forgive without any condition? How can we do it? The story of Joseph and his brothers portrays a good example for us to imitate forgiveness.

Joseph’s brothers fell down before him begging for forgiveness. What could a guilty person want than forgiveness! Joseph did more than forgiving, he made provisions for them and their children to live prosperously. Joseph did not discuss about forgiveness, he just did. Though Joseph affirmed their evil intention, he was not bothered by it. He lived for God’s business. What he rejoiced to see was God saving many people on account of that incident. Joseph recognized God’s plan transcends Man’s Plan.
Are you struggling to forgive someone? Look at Joseph. He would neither look on his suffering, nor on the sins of his brothers. He would not do self-pity nor ‘teach them a lesson.’ Joseph’s attitude is telling us to stop being conscious about ourselves but to delight in the providence of Sovereign God. Put not your eyes on your brother’s sins, but on the goodness of God. God forgives us not on the basis of who we are, but because of who He is. Jesus died for us while we were still sinner and rebellious (cf. Rom 5:8-10). Forgiveness is an issue of God-likeness, not an issue of Circumstances.