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January 25, 2016: Fearing Your Forgiveness
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 Dear <<First Name>>,

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?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘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. Genesis 50:15-17

This is one of the saddest stories in the bible. Every time I read it I am reminded of how many still fear the judgement of the Lord even though they are forgiven. I personally struggled through this issue over many years, being finally convinced that His grace left me no option to fear. 

In this story, Joseph is confronted with his brother's fear of retribution now that his father had passed. All along, they did not receive their forgiveness, but lived in fear of the eventual day of their father's death when they would certainly, in their mind, get what was coming to them. 

They missed the reality of their forgiveness. They must have been so stunned by the incredible love and grace shown to them by Joseph that it never occurred to them that it could be real. In the end, it broke his heart that they could not simply receive his forgiveness. 

In the same way, we can be like the brothers. We are fully, "it is finished," forgiven and still carry guilt, shame, fear, and terror in our soul. We try to be "good" Christians out of fear instead of freedom. We can miss the point and in effect it makes Jesus weep. 

Let the full forgiveness of Christ's finished work, calm your mind and cheer your soul. He loves you, forgives you, and only has good planned for your life. Let Him love you. It will bring a smile to His face. 

Here is reading for today:

Monday, January 25

Love, 

Pastor Stuart

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