Sunday 17 November 2013

Offended Heart Series- How not to hate?


“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.”
Romans 12:17
Today I want to talk about an example of the Bible that shows us clearly what forgiveness is.
I will not talk about Jesus, so that it’s not mentioned that He was God himself and for this reason he had this condition to forgive, let's talk about Joseph of Egypt.
You all already know the story; recently we had the opportunity to see it in Record.
Joseph was an ordinary man like us; he suffered a lot when his brothers out of envy sold him into slavery.
Now imagine being born a slave is already terrible, but the person having everything, to be heir to a fortune and suddenly become a slave in a foreign country and no right to anything, it was even more terrible.
Who would become a slave would be a slave until his death, as well as his wife and children.
Imagine being sold by your own brothers; is there any worse pain than this?
To make matters worse, after having refused to satisfy the desires of a seductive woman, the wife of his master, was arrested unfairly, accused of something he did not commit.
My God what pain and suffering, the snowball grew, like a tunnel with no way out, no hope.
I can imagine what was going through his head, in a dirty place and cold, eating poorly and remembering his father's house, where he was a prince.

Now tell me: What would be the natural reaction of a carnal heart? Be very angry, after all he did not lack reasons, to hate his brothers for being so wicked and unrighteous and living bitter until death.
Even us when we saw the series we thought about this "how can they be so mean? They deserved punishment. "
And as for God, why was he allowing his faithful servant to go through all this, how to understand such a situation, it would be easy to blame God too.
Of course, if Joseph had opted for this path, the end would not be the same.
He merely believed in God's promise and did not allow destructive feelings to enter in his heart, although he did not understand what was happening or the wickedness of people, which made all the difference.
And in our case, how has it been? Because it is very easy to blame others for our problems, for what we haven't managed to achieve, notice how all of this comes from a bitter heart.
It's easier to hate and think, "after all I have every reason for this, she will pay, I hope she dies, because of her I'm in this situation, everything was going so well and because of her I am penalized, destroyed", have these been your words?
Think with me, by chance any man can change the course of your life?
Someone can detain the vision that God gave you?
They may even try as the brothers of Joseph tried to get rid of him, preventing his success, but God was in control and He would be the only one who can decide your future.
Joseph got rid of the offense and therefore the plan of God fulfilled in his life and siblings, otherwise he would have died in the dungeon.
And you? Have you been taking justice into your own hands, have been using revenge?
Get rid of this prison, these bad feelings are only destroying you.
Do not forget you always have two options, stay offended and thereby give the devil freedom to act or get rid of the offense and remain in the purpose of God.
If you are from God everything that happens in your life God makes a way to bless you, even if the world does not want to!
Or is it that our God has no option, I have not read in bible God saying, "And now the Josephs brothers sold him, that was not the plan," or "my servant was imprisoned, they invented a very serious lie against him, what do I do now? "
No my friend, God is God, He always has a way how to reverse the situation, even if in your eyes there is no way, for Him there is, do not worry, just keep yourself clean within, He will do the rest.
Look at the words of Joseph, as he understood God's hand:
“But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Genesis 45:5-8

1 comments:

Asive Pukayi said...

very true if I don't forgive I make my life not to move , if Joseph didn't forget about what happened ,I believe his life would be the same .thank you foe sharing.

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