HDC’s ministry is designed to prepare individuals to engage their relational world, their oikos (the Greek word for “household”), with the tremendous news of God’s grace.
Looking at Joseph this weekend was a great reminder of the need to forgive others. And though we spent some significant time on the subject, there is no way to cover everything that needed to be said. One of those topics that could use clarification is the relationship between forgiveness and trust.
At the same time, forgiveness does not require that we place ourselves in the line of fire time and time again. In the story of Joseph, he likely had forgiven his brothers long before they showed up in Egypt. However, the full restoration of the relationship required a measure repentance. Joseph was not going to make himself vulnerable again until he knew that they had truly changed. Joseph had no resentment issues that we can discern, but he also had no desire to be violated again. In other words, forgiveness precedes a restored relationship. But for a relationship to be restored, one must acknowledge the wrong they have done. Once that is done, an individual has the opportunity to earn back the trust that was lost and in doing so, restore the relationship to its fullest.
One of the first things that I noticed during the first week of Route 66 is the way that God's love is presented. At first glance, it almost seems as if His love is distant, or even lacking. While reading through Genesis, it is clear that God is good. It is clear that God is faithful. It is clear that God is personal. But is it clear that God is love? The New Testament is overflowing with verses about God's love for mankind and how we are to love one another. One of the most popular verses in the Bible is about how much God so loved the world. And the more that I read through the Old Testament, the more it made sense. God is love. I think that His love is manifested in all of the ways listed above. His pure goodness. His consistent faithfulness. His personal interactions. Our God, God with us, I Am, loved the people of the Old Testament with the same agape love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross. When God created a companion for Adam, He showed His love. When God continued His promise to Abraham, He showed His love. When God spared Noah by having him build an ark, He showed His love. Praise be to a unchanging, never failing, loving God!
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised." Genesis 28:15
Amen to that!
HDC’s ministry is designed to prepare individuals to engage their relational world, their oikos (the Greek word for “household”), with the tremendous news of God’s grace.
HDC’s ministry is designed to prepare individuals to engage their relational world, their oikos (the Greek word for “household”), with the tremendous news of God’s grace.
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