Old Testament – Genesis 50:15-21
Joseph’s life is well known to us. He was hated by his brothers and they sold him
into slavery and then they told their father Joseph was dead. Now it is many
years later and their father has died. Joseph’s brothers are afraid because their
father is no longer alive and they have no idea what Joseph will do. They are
fearful that Joseph will take revenge. Remember at this point Joseph is the
second most powerful person in Egypt. Joseph can do anything he wants to his
brothers and it will be done. When they approach Joseph, Joseph tells them he
will not take revenge. Joseph also says his brothers planned evil but God turned
their evil plans into good. As a result of God doing this, many lives were saved.
Below is a short video that tells about Joseph, his brothers, their father and how
their story fits into God’s plan for good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1-AVyvFa1A
Old Testament – Psalm 103
Psalm 103 is a beautiful song full of praise and thanksgiving to God. This song
reminds us life is short and God is always thinking of us and showering us with His
love. Listen and sing along with this lovely rendition of Psalm 103.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHGNpOFsd_U
New Testament – Romans 14:1-12
God tells us through Paul that the only thing that is important is that we do everything
for God’s glory. When Paul lived, there were as many arguments about what people
should eat as today. Some people ate meat and some people were vegans just like
today. This had caused problems in the church because believers were criticizing each
other over silly things such as what each other ate. We are reminded how silly and
wrong this is. We are reminded God wants us to be concerned about how we are living
our lives and not how someone else is living his or her life.
New Testament – Matthew 18:21-35
Peter asks Jesus how many times Peter needs to forgive his brother whenever his
brother upsets him. Jesus’ surprising answer is “Seventy times seven.” So Jesus is
saying Peter and we are to forgive someone no matter how many times he or she
upsets us. As in Joseph’s story, we see God in the person of Jesus wants us to
forgive always. Forgiveness is not permission for someone to keep on acting
badly toward us. Forgiveness is not holding a grudge, resentment, bitterness or
taking revenge on someone who has hurt us.
Jesus then tells the story of how a man is brought to the king and he owes the
king $100,000 dollars. He can’t pay the king and so the king orders the man and
his family to be sold as slaves so he can get his money. Remember this is what
happened to people who couldn’t pay their debts in Jesus’ day. The man begs the
king and says he will pay the king back his money. The king changes his mind and
lets the man go. The man meets another man who owes him ten dollars outside.
The man demands the other to pay him. When the man can’t pay, the first man
puts this man in jail until the ten dollars is paid. People tell the king what the first
man has done and the king puts this man in jail until he pays the king the
$100,000 dollars. Jesus ends the story with the words “This is what God will do to
everyone who does not forgive unconditionally.”
This is hard. But, it is not so hard when we remember that Jesus died so that we
would be forgiven our sins by God. This shows us how important forgiveness is to
God. He gave His only Son for us so that our sins would be forgiven and we can
live forever with Him.
Watch this video as Jesus and Peter act out today’s parable.
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