50. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He has been forgiven, he forgives, by God's grace, for His power is made perfect in his weakness.
4 November 2020
Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, medieval illustration from the Hortus deliciarum of Herrad of Landsberg, 12th century
Herrad of Landsberg • Public domain
Acts 7
13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.
14 After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all.
Earlier.
9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.”
Forgive and forget.
Here's something I wrote 19 August 2017.
“Prayer has to be of a contrite and sincere heart.
Prayer is asking God's forgiveness for our trespasses; in turn we must be easy to forgive.
Joseph, more known as Joseph the Dreamer, who is the son of Jacob, is famous for the line, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20), forgiving his brothers, who years earlier sold him into slavery that brought him to Egypt, after he, the younger, told them about his dream suggesting he will reign over his brothers, which made them hate him (Genesis 37:8). Joseph later came to be second in command in Egypt, next to the Pharaoh, after he interpreted the dream of the Pharaoh, saving Egypt from a great famine (Genesis 41). The famine caused Joseph's family to come to Egypt for food.
Joseph was Jacob's favorite, he as a young boy must have asked his father about his uncle Esau, his father's older twin brother, and got to know about his father's misgiving of deceiving Esau twice (Genesis 25 and 27).
Joseph was there when his uncle Esau forgave his father (Genesis 33:2-4). That must have flashed back, the meaning of forgiving another, when he, now in charge of the whole land of Egypt, came face to face with his brothers who years back meant harm on him.
Prior to Monday's prayer, I came about Luke 23:34, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” It struck me that those words were not necessarily directed to the soldiers who crucified Him, but to me.
Lord, how ironic that I am sharing insight on forgiving another, yet it is my very own failing. I would rationalize the other person is not apologetic. Yet, forgiving is without waiting for the other party to apologize, instead unilateral on my part, for my own good that I may be released from bitter feeling, an unburden and calm my heart. Lord, You have forgiven me so many times, and yet many times what I want is to get even with others. Let me be conscious about this because my children are watching. Lord, heal my hurts and soften my heart, that I forgive another, no ifs and buts, by Your grace, Your power made perfect in my weakness. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.”
From Our Daily Bread.
“During the Second World War, Corrie ten Boom’s family owned a watchmaking business in the Netherlands, and they actively worked to protect Jewish families. Eventually, the entire ten Boom family was sent to a concentration camp, where Corrie’s father died 10 days later. Her sister Betsie also died in the camp. While Betsie and Corrie were in the camp together, Betsie’s faith helped to strengthen Corrie’s.
That faith led Corrie to forgive even the ruthless men who served as guards during her concentration camp days. While hate and the desire for revenge continued to destroy many lives long after the concentration camps were gone, Corrie knew the truth: Hate hurts the hater more than the hated, no matter how justified it may seem.
Like Corrie, we each have the opportunity to love our enemy and choose forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the offense but when we forgive we show Christ to the world. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).
God will help you let go of every angry grudge as you watch the Spirit build into you a place where others see the Savior.”
I have been forgiven, by God's grace. In turn, in gratitude, I must forgive and forget. God will help me let go of any grudge by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Someday, my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko, he has been forgiven, he forgives, by God's grace, for His power is made perfect in his weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May we abide in the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May you be blessed.
Maraming salamat.
Forgive and you will be set free....there will be peace and truly Jesus will so shine in us if we release total forgiveness....humbling but it's all worth it. Jesus be glorified!
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