Forgiveness And Reconciliation
BRD REFLECTIONS
Genesis 49:29-33, 50 & Psalm 51 (NIV)
(Katherine Loh, Associate PTM, Missions)
READ:
Genesis 50:15b-18 (NIV)
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father. ” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
OBSERVE:
The book of Genesis closes with the account of the death of two significant characters, Jacob and Joseph. At Jacob’s deathbed, he told the brothers to ask Joseph for forgiveness. They were so afraid of Joseph taking revenge that they sent messengers to Joseph. When they finally met Joseph, they fell facedown and offered to serve him. The brothers showed great repentance. They wanted to make up for what they had done. Joseph forgave them, continued to take care of them and they were present at Joseph’s deathbed.
In this happy ending, I realised the importance of forgiveness. It restored their broken relationships, healed their hearts, leading them to love one another.
APPLY:
As I reflect upon my own relationships with people especially with my siblings, I thank God for the ups and downs through the years. Recalling the down times when I knew I did wrong, I blame myself. I am disappointed I hurt someone or caused something bad to happen.
How can I make this situation better, so I can face the one I wronged with my head held up? How can I face God and walk in His righteousness?
DO:
Like David in Psalm 51, I will cry out to God for forgiveness and His great mercy. I am God’s precious daughter, and He loves me. With great compassion, He will cross out the black lines of my sins with the red lines of Christ’s blood. He will never condemn me. He will wash me thoroughly and remove all my sins.
I will ask God to create in me a clean heart, and to renew a steadfast spirit within me that is firm, faithful, to help me resist the devil. I yearn for God’s presence and will always abide in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
PRAY:
Psalm 51:1-2, 10-12
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
