God sent me!

One of the most difficult things in the world to do is to forgive someone. Someone who has hurt you - and now you're supposed to forgive them. Someone damages your reputation by spreading lies or even things true and you're supposed to forgive them. Someone hurts your family and you're supposed to forgive them. This must be one of the hardest things in the world to do! Can you do this? How do you do this? We see this principle in the Lord's Prayer, "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against you." But it's not easy. Someone you have trusted shares all your secrets and now you believe others are laughing at you and making fun of you - and you're supposed to forgive that person who betrayed you?

I bring this up because of the story of Joseph. He did something that was pretty amazing - he forgave his brothers.

And as we listen to what Joseph says, we find out how he was able to do this - he told his brothers not to be angry at themselves for doing bad things to him. And here's why "because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." Joseph understood that God was ultimately watching over this whole situation. God used their evil for something good. Joseph understood that the bad things that his brothers did to him were part of a bigger plan to save lives.

Sunday is about love – forgiveness – purpose – trust in God – all this sounds like every day to me – See you Sunday,

Pastor Mike