February 3, 10
These past weeks we’ve thought about the journeys we are on with forgiving others. We’ve used the story of Joseph as a mirror to help us. We talked about the influence of Joseph’s Uncle Esau on his life. As a young boy Joseph witnessed his Uncle Esau falling on Jacob’s shoulders and forgiving him. It undoubtedly left an indelible impression.
Then I think about my own forgiveness journeys. Lots of times I just get tired, “I can’t think about this anymore.” Or I give up, “This will never get resolved.” Or I like to hold onto a hidden little bundle of revenge, because I still feel hurt. It seems all in my court…will I offer forgiveness or not? And the implications are clear…this relationship will either continue for me, or it will end. It seems pretty cut and dried.
But I look at Esau’s decision to forgive…he probably had no idea that what he was doing might be setting the stage for what happens in the next generation of the family. Maybe what I need to ask is not so much, “Do I want to forgive?” as “Is this the legacy I want to give to the next generation?” That next generation might be your own children, your nieces or nephews, your grandchildren, or children in the church who watch a conflict unfold. Will you leave blessings or curses behind you?
Prayer for today: Open my eyes to see the power of sin in my life. Open my eyes to see the power of forgiveness you offer. Help me choose to pass on blessings not curses.
January 27, 10
Most Christians believe that lying is wrong. Do not bear false witness. It’s pretty clear. But even the early Anabaptists struggled about whether it was necessary to always tell the whole truth all the time.
There’s a story told about the early Anabaptist Menno Simons in the Netherlands. He was travelling by stagecoach, sitting up with the driver. Police officers galloped up and asked Menno, “Is Menno Simons in the carriage? We have a warrant for his arrest!” Menno bent over from the top of the coach and called in, “Is Menno Simons in the carriage?” The people said, “No,” so Menno addressed the horsemen, “They say that Menno Simons is not inside the carriage.” The police officers galloped away, and Menno’s life was saved.
Sometimes we think it’s OK to tell just part of the truth. Maybe it will save a life. But most of the time we tell part of the truth to keep ourselves out of trouble, or to help preserve our reputation. Sometimes we are telling only part of the truth in order to mislead someone. Can you think of a time when someone told you part of the truth? They may not have technically spoken lying words, but by not saying the whole truth, you came to the wrong conclusions.
I think one of the conditions that can help forgiveness, is a confession that is full and complete. Is that what happens in the Joseph story? We’ll conclude our series on Joseph this Sunday.
This week’s prayer: Lord, help us this week as we make decisions about whether to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help us God!
