GOOD INTENTIONS

September 19, 2024

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.




The story of Joseph, as recounted in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, is a profound lesson on forgiveness. Joseph, the son of Jacob endured a life of adversity after being sold into slavery by his brothers at the age of 17.

Soon after Joseph's arrival in Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard. According to Genesis 39, "the Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered in all he did," which included his service to Potiphar. We are told that Joseph ascended to the position of Potiphar's personal aide, managing all aspects of his household.

In Potiphar's household, things appeared to be running smoothly until Potiphar's wife began causing problems. She persistently pursued Joseph, who consistently upheld his integrity and refused her advances. Genesis 39:10 notes, "Day after day she pressured Joseph, yet he would not consent to be with her." (some translations say "sleep with her.") Despite being innocent, Joseph faced unjust imprisonment, enduring ten years of captivity for a crime he never committed.

The account in Genesis reveals that Joseph's early life was filled with heartache and hardship. Despite these challenges, he continued to work diligently and maintained his integrity.

Undoubtedly, the qualities of hard work and honesty deserve high praise. The most remarkable lesson from Joseph's life is his capacity for forgiveness. Despite the profound betrayal by his brothers, he chose to forgive and look beyond the immediate hurt to the God's bigger picture.

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” When Joseph was a teenager and sold into slavery, he didn’t know how God was working out all of the details of his future. Joseph could’ve been bitter and angry, but instead, he worked hard no matter where he was and what his circumstances held. As time went by, we see that Joseph understood why these events occurred in his life. God had a plan.

Life throws challenges at us, some from others and some are self-inflicted. No matter how we land in tough spots, it's possible for these experiences to be turned into something that God can use to help others. ("for the saving of many lives")

Perhaps someone betrayed you so deeply that you don’t think you can ever trust again. There could have been a loss in your life that caused your hope to evaporate. Those aren’t enjoyable experiences, but how we walk and heal through them could be the key to unlocking not just our own freedom, but also someone else’s.

On Monday, we concluded our Devotion with these two questions:

Who do you need to forgive? Who has hurt you? Who lied to you? Deceived you? Violated you and your trust?

Who do you need to ask forgiveness from? Who have you hurt? Lied to you or lied about? Have you violated someone? Have you misused someone’s trust? It takes courage to ask for forgiveness. You can do it. God supports you on this.

Ask God to reveal to you, a next step in the journey of forgiveness. In time, God will show you how He can redeem your pain to not only bring healing into your life, but also to benefit someone else. When we are forgiven, we receive a gift we may not deserve. It becomes a gift we can then extend to someone else. It allows us to begin anew. Forgiving others spares us from harboring bitterness in our hearts. It grants us peace of mind and aligns us with the act of obeying God.

Ah, One-Anothering!!