Day 19: Genesis 44-45; Matthew 15:1-20
When soldiers return from their tours of service, their family reunion is sweet. It is a beautiful thing to behold. When missionaries return to their family in their land of origin, often there are tears of joy and the embraces are warm and extended. I have been there. Both of these are long anticipated, often they come with flowers and signs, and many times added supporters as an expression of love and gratitude. This reunion (Genesis 44) was a total shock to all the immediate family, except one. The initial response was not joy, but fear and horror. Unlike the send-off of soldiers and missionaries where the tears of love flow, Joseph's send-off was to glares of hatred. His own brothers sold him into slavery. The present encounter would have been entirely different had Joseph not been a man of God, a man who forgave completely, a man who still loved his family. Oh yes, he had his way, but the revelation was pure and beautiful...embraces, kisses, weeping. There is joy in the house of the Lord in moments such as this. To such moments, God has graciously allowed me to be witness. Oh how sweet! What a testimony of what forgiveness and grace can mean to family and friends, indeed, to the world.
Today, you may have a legitimate case against a brother or sister, or a brother or sister in the Lord. Learn the lesson of Joseph. See it foretell the lesson of Jesus from the cross: "Father, forgive them!" Understand, it takes grace to walk into such an embrace. Remember, the one who has been forgiven much can find it in their heart also to forgive. Watch the overflow of blessing when you take the first loving step toward the one who approaches you with guilt and shame.
P.S. And, if the one to whom you extend grace rejects your embrace, know this: your Father in heaven sees what you have done in love, will never forget it, and will bless you for it!
Today, you may have a legitimate case against a brother or sister, or a brother or sister in the Lord. Learn the lesson of Joseph. See it foretell the lesson of Jesus from the cross: "Father, forgive them!" Understand, it takes grace to walk into such an embrace. Remember, the one who has been forgiven much can find it in their heart also to forgive. Watch the overflow of blessing when you take the first loving step toward the one who approaches you with guilt and shame.
P.S. And, if the one to whom you extend grace rejects your embrace, know this: your Father in heaven sees what you have done in love, will never forget it, and will bless you for it!
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.
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2023
January
Day 1: Genesis1-2; Matthew 1Day 2: Genesis 3-5; Matthew 2Day 3: Genesis 6-8; Matthew 3Day 4: Genesis 9-11; Matthew 4Day 5: Genesis 12-14; Matthew 5-6Day 6: Genesis 15-17; Matthew 7Day 7: Genesis 18-22Day 8: Matthew 8Day 9: Genesis 23-24; Matthew 9Day 10: Genesis 25-26; Matthew 10:1-25Day 11: Genesis 27-28; Matthew 10:26-42Day 12: Genesis 29-30; Matthew 11Day 13: Genesis 31-32; Matthew 12:1-21Day 14: Genesis 33-37Day 15: Matthew 12:22-13:23Day 16: Genesis 38-40; Matthew 13:24-58Day 17: Genesis 41; Matthew 14:1-21Day 18: Genesis 42-43; Matthew 14:22-36Day 19: Genesis 44-45; Matthew 15:1-20Day 20: Genesis 46-48; Matthew 15:21-39Day 21: Genesis 49-Exodus 4; Matthew 16Day 22: Genesis 49-Exodus 4; Matthew 16Day 23: Exodus 5-6; Matthew 17Day 24: Exodus 7-10; Matthew 18:1-20Day 25: Exodus 11-12; Matthew 18:21-35Day 26: Exodus 13-15; Matthew 19:1-15Day 27: Exodus 16-18; Matthew 19:16-30Day 28: Exodus 19-22; Matthew 20:1-16Day 29: Exodus 19-22; Matthew 20:1-16Day 30: Exodus 23-25; Matthew 20:17-34Day 31: Exodus 26-28; Matthew 21
February
Day 32: Exodus 29-30; Matthew 22:1-22Day 33: Exodus 31-33; Matthew 22:23-46-Day 34: Exodus 34-36; Matthew 23:1-22Day 35: Exodus 37 - Leviticus 1; Matthew 23:23-39Day 36: Exodus 37 - Leviticus 1; Matthew 23:23-39Day 37: Leviticus 2-3; Matthew 24Day 38: Leviticus 4-6; Matthew 25:1-30Day 39: Leviticus 7-9; Matthew 25:31-46
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