Day 25
Ever had those days when you feel that no-one loves you? Or those days when you wish you could be famous and the world notice you? Ever found it really hard to forgive? All of these things, which we can probably identify with on a regular basis come up in our readings today.
I have written a fair bit over the past week about how, when people see God in us, they see something different. How Joseph got to the place where he is because he walked with God. Well it wasn’t just him, it was his family too. Today we see the story of the death of Jacob/Israel and all about his funeral. Now in this country, state funerals (the ones in London where everything stops and there are huge processions with the coffin and the army) only happen for really important people like the Royal family or people like Winston Churchill. Now, the Prime Minister David Cameron’s dad had just died and the story that we have just heard would be like him getting a state funeral – the Prime Minister's dad. All of Pharaoh's court went with Joseph when he buried his dead, everything stopped just because he was Joseph's dad. When it’s in God’s plans and God’s hands, the right people at the right time will always notice us and we will be the most important people in the world – when God wants us to be.
And then in the Old Testament reading we find forgiveness from Joseph. His brothers are scared to death that he will hold the grudge to end all grudges because of what they did. But Joseph forgives. Only one things enables us to forgive and that is the fact that we are forgiven. Know that you are forgiven, know the love of God and then forgive just as Joseph did. (Although it can still be hard work at times). It is when we come with childlike innocence that the Lord can work with us more.
Is there anything you need to cast before God? Any of the burdens of teenage, uni or working life that you need to cast before God and come as a little child. Even as one so little Samuel has done endless things wrong. Ask me to remember even a fraction and I can’t. God’s love for his children is even better, he forgives. So come and know his love as father with his children.
I have written a fair bit over the past week about how, when people see God in us, they see something different. How Joseph got to the place where he is because he walked with God. Well it wasn’t just him, it was his family too. Today we see the story of the death of Jacob/Israel and all about his funeral. Now in this country, state funerals (the ones in London where everything stops and there are huge processions with the coffin and the army) only happen for really important people like the Royal family or people like Winston Churchill. Now, the Prime Minister David Cameron’s dad had just died and the story that we have just heard would be like him getting a state funeral – the Prime Minister's dad. All of Pharaoh's court went with Joseph when he buried his dead, everything stopped just because he was Joseph's dad. When it’s in God’s plans and God’s hands, the right people at the right time will always notice us and we will be the most important people in the world – when God wants us to be.
And then in the Old Testament reading we find forgiveness from Joseph. His brothers are scared to death that he will hold the grudge to end all grudges because of what they did. But Joseph forgives. Only one things enables us to forgive and that is the fact that we are forgiven. Know that you are forgiven, know the love of God and then forgive just as Joseph did. (Although it can still be hard work at times). It is when we come with childlike innocence that the Lord can work with us more.
Is there anything you need to cast before God? Any of the burdens of teenage, uni or working life that you need to cast before God and come as a little child. Even as one so little Samuel has done endless things wrong. Ask me to remember even a fraction and I can’t. God’s love for his children is even better, he forgives. So come and know his love as father with his children.
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