Last time we learned that God wants
to use us right there where we are. He wants to use us to make a
difference in people's lives all around us. He wants us to build
His Kingdom right there where we are and show His love to all the
people around us. We are His hands and feet on earth and He wants
to use us to deeply touch people's lives.
Jacob died and his funeral was a
statement of his greatness. It showed what a big difference he made
in the seventeen years that he had been in Egypt. The whole of
Egypt mourned for him and that says a lot. In a short space of time
and at his old age, he made an impact and we can certainly be
inspired by that.
Now after Jacob died Joseph's
brothers were very worried. After seventeen years of Joseph looking
after them, they still didn't trust him. They were convinced that
he was going to get even with them now that their father had died.
They thought that he had been pretending to care for them these
seventeen years. So they devised a plan:
"So they sent messengers to
Joseph, saying, 'Before your father died he commanded saying, 'Thus
you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespasses
of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you." Genesis
50:16, 17
When Joseph heard this he wept. He
was so sad, he couldn't believe that this is how his brothers saw
him. He had forgiven them decades ago and here they beg for
forgiveness again. They even drag their deceased father into all of
this. It truly saddened Joseph. He had no more anger towards his
brothers and yet they still saw him as holding a grudge against
them.
When I read this the Lord said to
me that it is how He feels sometimes. God the Father sent Jesus His
Son to die for us. He died for our sins, so that we needn't die for
the sinful deeds that we have done. He died so that God will
remember our sins no more. He took the punishment so that we do not
have to. Our sins have been forgiven by Jesus. God tells us that in
1 John 2:12:
"I write to you little
children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name's
sake."
Isn't it wonderful news? Our sins
have been forgiven, it is a done deal. God even blots out
our sins:
"I, even I, am He who blots out
your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your
sins." Isaiah 43:25
God sent His Son so that we can be
free from sins. For He so loved the world:
"For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
He has given us everlasting life,
all we need to do is believe in His Son. And when we accept Him
into our lives:
"If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
We confess our sins upon conversion
and then we can trust that Jesus will forgive us. He promises that
in His Word. We needn't fear. This is actually a very long teaching
that I am trying to sum up in one devotion, but I just want you to
get this one thing, God is no longer angry with you. He is not
waiting to punish you at the first chance that He gets. You do not
have to confess your sins over and over and over again. Once is
enough, then trust Him that He has forgiven you. He promises that
He does. Jesus has died for our sins, once and for all, we simply
need to accept it.
We shouldn't live in fear like
Joseph's brothers did. They feared him and what he might do to
them. They never really accepted his forgiveness and it saddened
him. God is also saddened when we do not accept His forgiveness. He
is waiting for us with open arms. He has provided forgiveness to us
and wants us close to Him. If we continue to fear Him and not
accept His forgiveness as a gift, we will not have a close
relationship with Him. We cannot and that is detrimental to our
spiritual life. We will live in constant anxiety over what He is
going to do to us. We will constantly confess the same sins over
and over again which indicates that we do not trust Him. No my
friend. God has forgiven us, He loves us and He wants the best for
us. He wants you to come to Him and have a close relationship with
Him. Do not allow this chance to pass you by. Go to Him and
experience Him as the loving Father that He is.
Father, thank you for loving us.
Thank you for wanting the best for us, every moment of every day.
Thank you for Your forgiveness. We accept it humbly and we glorify
Jesus for buying this freedom for us! We want to have a close
relationship with You. Help us to walk this road with You and
experience all of Your loving care. Amen