January 06, 2025

 Happy Monday!

Happy New Year!

Topic: Forgiveness

God is forgiveness (When God is in your heart; you will, and you can forgive. 

Happy Birthday!

I celebrated my birthday Sunday January 05. I thank God for the time he gives us. Time moves so fast we must make the time to live life in peace with all men and women. There is some fire starters and some trouble makers but guess what they rule and win when the peace makers stop making peace. We must love the families God gave us. Love them as they are. They still act up. They still act funny but God gave them to you and sometimes they might not change. We have to love the friends he has given us. Think on the good things they do. What gifts and services they bring to your life. If we spend all our time thinking about what they did wrong we will spend this short time on earth unhappy. Sometimes people want to make us angry on purpose. They want to hurt others on purpose. I could be wrong but I think its because they are angry; and angry people dislike happy people. Hurt people want to hurt others. So they win if we hold on to the offense. We feel negative feelings in negative situations but what if we were quick to forgive just because that person is affecting your relationship with God. 

Joseph found out the real prison was unforgiveness. His brothers did him so wrong he should be bitter; and I bet no one would blame him, but God gave him grace and he forgave his jealous brothers. They really dislike him for silly reasons. His coat was colorful. He smiled too much. He was always with his father. Maybe he was singing too loud and too much. Maybe he played the wrong music. There is never a good reason to hurt someone and how offensive when its over something silly.

Genesis 50:15-21 ESV 

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? ...

Joseph said, if I forgive you. God will forgive you. I chose to not be angry. He made a choice to not think about those nights and days in prison. Surely the devil will remind you everyday what they did to you. It was by inspiration of the devil and then he uses it as a tool to imprison you. But when he brings the thoughts to your mind. Picture yourself free from inner conflict such as pride (they talked about me). They didn't respect me. Its okay. They treated you less than what you deserved but its okay. You still have God and life is too short to spend it mad. 

 Joseph had the spirit of God in him. When you have God you will forgive. No one will teach you or show you. You will cry but you will forgive the people who have hurt you the most. It is a fruit of the spirit. If you ever doubted someone salvation look at what they have chosen to forgive. I know it takes God to forgive. It is not natural. 

One day the chains will fall off. A moment of true forgiveness; and it brings you back to God. The devil uses people to hurt us because it hinders our relationship with God. We cannot have fellowship with God as long as we are at war or in a state of anger with another person. The other person may not even be aware of it but God knows it and God requires us to forgive from the heart. If a person confesses to know God yet is always angry with another person and has not tried to make peace then that person is far from God. We can pray for each other. 

Our example. None of us has been treated this badly. Jesus said; "Father forgive them." He didn't say strike them down. This is the Spirit or attitude that comes from God. He knows you can do it. I will forgive. 

Have a beautiful day!