Tag Archives: forgiveness

Can I Be a Joseph? Can You?

13 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by in Spiritual Maturity

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In his book, All In, Mark Batterson explains that spiritual maturity is when the theoretical becomes experiential.  That led me to think about Joseph, the son of Jacob, and how his life unfolded.

We get to know Joseph at the age of 17 and assuredly, he could never have imagined that he would someday be second in command to the Pharaoh of Egypt. His dream of his father and brother bowing down to him left out the details.

There was jealousy in the family ranks. Joseph’s brothers took opportunity and cast him into a pit. He was sold into slavery. The brothers thought they were done with him—their father’s favorite.

In years to come Joseph had mercy on his brothers and he took them out of a pit of their own, the pit of famine. He could have denied them help. He could have given help but with smugness and haughtiness. He could have charged them in some way for his rescue. Yet, Joseph with the blessing of Pharoah gave them the best land in Egypt. And with the material blessing came spiritual blessing: his forgiveness and his love, neither of which was deserved. God gives to us that same way.

Joseph suffered other pits after that one the brothers put him in. There was the pit of lies that cast him out of Pharaoh’s presence and put him in prison. And there was the pit of being forgotten after interpreting the cupbearer’s dream and remaining in prison for another two years.

Joseph moved from theoretical maturity of spirit to experiential. He grew in the dark jail as a seed grows in the dark earth. He didn’t give up his God. He kept depending, trusting. He was all in and he saw it through.

The brothers’ unkindness was rewarded with Joseph’s kindness. God had a plan for Joseph’s life and nothing that happened to him could do away with that plan.

Think of the prayers Joseph must have prayed. Think of the hopelessness he had to fight off.  Think of how God surely spoke to Joseph during the years in prison. Joseph took a stand for God and God took a stand for Joseph.

Joseph made choices along the way. He could have chosen bitterness. He could have chosen revenge. But Joseph wasn’t committed to feelings; he was committed to God. He lined up with the One who had his life in hand. In those first 17 years, Joseph learned of his father’s Father. He came to know and believe in the God of Jacob. He was establishing then the foundation on which he would live, grow, and trust. God is always at work in us.

We think about those who have hurt us, deceived us, gone extra steps to destroy us. But after that must come the question: How do we respond? Do we take higher ground with God or revenge like the world would tell us to? Can we forgive like God forgives us? Can we reap the peace of a Joseph by simply forgiving and desiring good for the individuals? Can we sincerely invite God to wash us clean of all resentment, all memories of mistreatment? Do we even want that? It is a sobering question! A question that begs truth, not pious words. Do we earnestly want to cast off the heavy robes that drag us down and hold us back? Do we want to shed garments stained by bruised feelings, bitterness, anger, and deep hurt? Can we leave these things behind and be dressed in the garments of Jesus? Can we accept his robes of forgiveness, love, and kindness and desire to bless and not condemn our enemies? It’s easy to say yes, but doing it begs for action.

Can I be a Joseph today? Can you? It’s our decision.

You can find the story of Joseph and his family in Genesis 37-47:12. 

Hitting Bottom

07 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by in Prodigal

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When I worked in a hospital, we sometimes had meetings over lunch for educational purposes. I have often thought of one speaker in particular, a counselor from our Behavioral Health facility, an off-campus care center for treating drug and alcohol addictions. The counselor, who had once been addicted to drugs, explained what it was like to be bound by obsessive cravings that served only to destroy one’s life. She said the addicted person had to hit bottom before he or she would turn their life around.

The story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is a story about hitting bottom. Perhaps the rebellious son was addicted to greed and pleasure. At his pleading, his father gave him his share of inheritance that rightfully would not have been his until after his father’s death. Immediately, the son went away and quickly squandered a fortune. He all too soon found himself with nothing, not even necessary food for living. He had hit bottom!

The parable of the Prodigal Son is a picture of our Father God and how he responds to His children—us—no matter what self-orchestrated bottom we hit. He never stops loving us and He is always on watch for His confused, wayward child to return to Him.

Addiction of any kind is a demanding and jealous master; I don’t know that any addiction can be broken outside the power of God’s love.  It is His love that gives strength when we have none.  It is His love that puts the right people in our path to help us find our way out of an all-consuming habit. It is His love that never gives up on us—and that steadfastness gives us hope that we can be restored and the courage to begin.

When the Prodigal Son set off from home, he was dizzy with high expectations for a life of sheer pleasure. However, it didn’t turn out that way. His frivolity became his downfall and he was soon unable to take care of even his basic needs. When he returned to his father in abject poverty, his greatest hope was to be treated as a servant so that he might have food to live. But the Father met with delight and compassion this wayward son (Luke 15:20), certainly not what the Son who had hit bottom expected.

The account of the Prodigal Son is the story of anyone who willfully chooses to worship anything but God. Finding oneself in a pit of shame and guilt, we may ask “Will God take me back?” And the answer is a resounding yes! When we take the first step toward God, the step of repentance, our Father comes quickly to meet us. Not to condemn, but to welcome us home. He will reward our decision to trust Him with compassion and healing.

Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.  

Psalm 6:4 (ESV)

Who I Really Am

14 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by in God's love for us

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Ravi Zacharias says there are three of each of us: There is who the world thinks we are, who we think we are, and who Gods knows us to be.  I am so grateful for that last one—who God knows me to be.

One of the quickest ways for me to fall flat on my face is to state with all boldness and certainty I will never do a particular thing.  That thing might by to repeat a past mistake, it may be some way I’ve seen another fail, or it may be some wrong behavior I know can happen but cannot imagine myself ever doing.

As my life has unfolded, I’ve worked to keep my mouth tightly closed about the nevers of life, for I identify with Paul in Romans 7:18-19: For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 

Throughout life, I have by nature been a survivor. I’ve worked hard and long hours to get whatever needed to be done, done. As an adult in my 40’s, I had to put my survivor skills into action and through that time, I came to believe I could do just about anything if I had to do it, and if there was enough fire burning inside me to get it done. I also learned that I was a perfectionist and it took a while to recognize that wasn’t a good thing but a very unhealthy way to go about life. However, it was the discipline of that trait that helped me move from survivor to one who accomplished well.

But none of that matters when it comes to living in the Lord’s strength. I can determine whatever I want to determine but if the Lord is not the one who guides and supplies, all will crumble about me. I hear Paul’s struggle with right and wrong and identify with his frustration and self-disappointment.

I have learned to do this: When someone else judges me, I ask myself who I am judging. When I hear about someone else’s mistake that I think I could never do, I say there but for the grace of God go I. When I do a wrong—or repeat one—I thank God that He knows me in a way that I do not even know myself and that is the me He loves.

Hurling Stones of Accusation

02 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by in forgiveness

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A favorite Christian musician fell and he fell hard. People forgot the richness of his ministry and rushed to pick up stones to throw. Words were hurled in his direction: ugly accusing words, self-righteous words.

Now he has returned and His love songs to God soar high just like before. His praise again leads in worship of the King in a way only the anointed of God can do.  God had the last word and it was a word of mercy and grace. It was a word of forgiveness and restoration. God isn’t about hurling stones, but redeeming the fallen. Lifting his children to new beginnings.

I picture in my mind how quickly we line up to hurl our angry stones at one who has fallen. We look past our own sins and with puffed up egos, hurl out accusations. With pride, we dust off our hands and arrogantly walk away, forgetting who we are. Forgetting that we are just like the one who fell and we stoned with our words; we are creatures of flesh that will fall time and time again.

Thanks be to God, it isn’t how the Lover of our Souls does things! He never walks away with the stone throwers, but stays behind to care for the wounded. He isn’t interested in piling on accusations, but restoring the one who fell.  God takes the side of the weak every time.

Our Lord cares for the one gone astray and He asks us to do the same. He made a choice at Calvary, and because of that choice, we can count on being lifted from our own falls. We can count on His standing beside us as we face our accusers. We can count on God’s eternal protection of mercy and grace to see us home.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load (Galatians 6:1-5 NIV).

Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13 NIV).

YOU ARE MY SAFE PLACE

How God Our Father Sees Us

26 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in how God sees us

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“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, NAS). This is what each one of us as God’s children will hear. As “heirs to the promise” (Galatians 3:29), we share in the blessings of Jesus.

This is a lot to digest, the part of God being well pleased with me. I look at my life and see miserable failure in living the God-life. But if I take another view, I see it isn’t about the me I know, but the one God knows.

Since God has forgotten our sins and removed them “as far as the east from the east” (Psalm 103:12), we stand only in the holiness of Jesus, the One we call Savior. God the Father sees us with clothes of salvation and righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) and we are beautiful in His sight. Though a lot to get our minds around, we look like Jesus. Standing in the Savior’s garment we radiate only good things, for He is only good. And that is all the Father sees. Imagine. All that grieves us about ourselves will not be a part of our final being. We will at last be revealed as the Father sees us. We will not be confused by the ploys of Satan. We will not walk with a rock of sin in our shoe. There will be no more guilt, no more shame and all because we did one thing: we chose to believe in Jesus (John 3:16).

Perhaps the amount of detail to our garment will be reflective of all we have done in Christ’s name. It won’t be a garment of fine fabric, buttons and trim, but a different kind altogether. Our new garment will be of the little one we loved, the old person aided, the sick we attended. It will be the orphanage we helped build, the missionary we supported, the joyful surprise we prepared for a weary sojourner. The meal we cooked, the child we taught about God, the witness we gave in darkness. The stranger we made welcome, the lonely one we sat with, the one in need we walked with.  The time we spent in worship, the songs of praise to God we lifted, the words of encouragement we spoke. The times we sought and followed wisdom, the moments we forgave, the unconditional love we extended.

Those acts in the Lord’s name will be the garment that cover us, for that is the righteousness of Jesus and that is what the Father has chosen to see when He looks on us in Spirit and not in flesh (Romans 8:27).

Praises be to the One who forgives and loves us. Praises be to the One who made a way possible for us. Glory to God, for Redeemer is His name!

jesus111

Content In Whatever State

21 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by in forgiveness

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The apostle Paul said he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in.   He said to be anxious for nothing, but give thanks in everything and when we have that attitude, we will know the peace of God.  I knew a wonderful example of that.  Her name was Martha.

I worked for a physician and Martha was a patient there.  A very gracious lady and one known for her baking, she would often bring to us her specialty, a five-flavor pound cake.  It could brighten any busy day.

Martha had grown up in an affluent home, but her married life was one of ups and downs.  Her husband was given to taking great investment risks, some said all with the money she had inherited.   A time came when he risked too much and they lost everything they had.  This kind lady lost her family home – the one she had lived in all her life – and everything in it.

Not long after their plight became public knowledge, she called to say she needed to come in for an examination.  She said they wanted to cash in a life insurance policy and it required a physician’s statement that she was no longer able to bear children.  They had grown children and the policy secured the money for their inheritance, but also for any future heirs.  Their children had released the binder on the inheritance and now she needed proof that there would be no danger of a future heir’s protest.    Martha was approaching 70.   We saw it as insult upon insult.

We were nervous about her visit.  It was a small town and there were no secrets so she would come knowing we knew of their severe loss.  How did we greet her?  Pretend nothing was wrong?  Hope we could just fake it through to help her preserve dignity?  And the terrible offense of having to submit her body for a pointless examination had us all riled.

The day came for her visit and I can still remember how tense we all were.  We loved Martha and were concerned about this ultimate embarrassment.  But as soon as she was in the door, we knew we had far under-estimated her.  She came in laughing at such a ridiculous request by the insurance company; she just thought it was all very funny.  And with her came one of her famous cakes.  She apologized that it was a little lopsided but she had borrowed the mixer and oven of a friend and was unfamiliar with both.  She made the remark as if it was quite normal to produce a cake in this manner.  And, Martha’s husband was with her.  There was no tension between them; rather, she seemed perfectly delighted with his company.

Some in the town mumbled that Martha had lost her mind since no one mentally intact could behave as she did in view of all she had lost.  But I never saw that.  I saw a godly woman who was living out the scriptures, a woman who loved and trusted God.  She was refusing to live as the world would choose for her.  Martha had obviously forgiven her husband and accepted the tremendous blow to her life.  She walked on in faith and in practice, with the peace that comes from believing God’s word.  She is one of my spiritual giants.

The Harm Of Negativity

12 Saturday Feb 2011

Posted by in forgiveness

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My Father, protect me from negativity.  If I begin to think unkind thoughts about another, please draw me away from those thoughts.  Remind me of how negative thinking takes one into a downward spiral and away from You.

One of the hardest things for me is to stop thinking about is an offense, to not mull over how I was hurt.  Lingering on hurtful thoughts is unproductive and takes away precious moments that will never come again.   I pray to grow stronger in letting go of hurts and remembering this is just part of life here on earth.  Help me to not give up on others or myself.  I pray to use the lessons hurt brings and then step outside the pain and go on with You.

If I am with someone and they speak inappropriately, give me the grace to be silent and not a contributor to such conversation.   If there is a word I can say that will help the matter, please put that on my lips; otherwise, please button them.  I have enough regrets for words I wish I could call back; please keep me from adding to them.   Remind me to distance myself as quickly as possible, as negativity can sometimes gain a foothold simply by lingering too long in the wrong environment.

The answer to negativity is to lose ourselves in You, to focus on the good and beautiful.  On that, dear Father, help me to think long and often.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”  Philippians 4:8