“But Joseph replied, ‘Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.’ So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:19–21 NLT)

 

Joseph’s words to his brothers in Genesis 50:19–21 underscore a hard truth for God’s people. We are called to forgive everyone who wrongs us. Keep in mind that Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. He spent the better part of his life separated from his beloved father. He became a servant. He spent years in an Egyptian prison for a crime he didn’t commit. All because his brothers couldn’t control their jealousy.

Yet, years later, when he was finally reunited with them—when he was perfectly positioned to exact revenge on the siblings who had taken so much from him—this is what he said: “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children” (Genesis 50:19–21 NLT).

Some people get to the end of this story and say, “I could never forgive someone who did that to me.” But the spiritual reality is that they can—and must.

Jesus said, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (Mark 11:25 NLT). There is no asterisk or fine print listing the offenses that are excluded from His command. Jesus expects us to forgive those who have wronged us. Those who have taken advantage of us. Those who have slandered us. Those who have made fun of us. Those who have betrayed us.

And if we try to argue that someone doesn’t deserve our forgiveness, we’re left with an inescapable truth: That’s what makes us the perfect people to forgive, because we know how it is to receive forgiveness we don’t deserve. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32 NLT).

We may not always feel like forgiving. We may see people who have wronged us and feel our blood begin to boil. That’s when we need to say, “As an act of faith, as a step of obedience to Jesus Christ, I forgive this person.”

It’s been said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” We should forgive not only for the sake of others, but also for the sake of our own mental and spiritual health. We must place our anger, pain, and desire to get even in God’s hands so that we’re no longer tormented by them.

Is there someone you need to forgive today? Are you harboring a grudge toward someone? Forgive. Forgive whoever has hurt you. As Jesus said in Luke 6:37, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven” (NLT).

 

Reflection question: What would forgiveness look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

 

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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&ldquo;But Joseph replied, &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?&nbsp;You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don&rsquo;t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.&rsquo; So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.&rdquo; (Genesis 50:19&ndash;21 NLT)
&nbsp;
Joseph&rsquo;s words to his brothers in Genesis 50:19&ndash;21 underscore a hard truth for God&rsquo;s people. We are called to forgive everyone who wrongs us. Keep in mind that Joseph&rsquo;s brothers sold him into slavery. He spent the better part of his life separated from his beloved father. He became a servant. He spent years in an Egyptian prison for a crime he didn&rsquo;t commit. All because his brothers couldn&rsquo;t control their jealousy.
Yet, years later, when he was finally reunited with them&mdash;when he was perfectly positioned to exact revenge on the siblings who had taken so much from him&mdash;this is what he said: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?&nbsp;You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don&rsquo;t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children&rdquo; (Genesis 50:19&ndash;21 NLT).
Some people get to the end of this story and say, &ldquo;I could never forgive someone who did that to me.&rdquo; But the spiritual reality is that they can&mdash;and must.
Jesus said, &ldquo;But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too&rdquo; (Mark 11:25 NLT). There is no asterisk or fine print listing the offenses that are excluded from His command. Jesus expects us to forgive those who have wronged us. Those who have taken advantage of us. Those who have slandered us. Those who have made fun of us. Those who have betrayed us.
And if we try to argue that someone doesn&rsquo;t deserve our forgiveness, we&rsquo;re left with an inescapable truth: That&rsquo;s what makes us the perfect people to forgive, because we know how it is to receive forgiveness we don&rsquo;t deserve. As the apostle Paul wrote, &ldquo;Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you&rdquo; (Ephesians 4:32 NLT).
We may not always feel like forgiving. We may see people who have wronged us and feel our blood begin to boil. That&rsquo;s when we need to say, &ldquo;As an act of faith, as a step of obedience to Jesus Christ, I forgive this person.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s been said, &ldquo;To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.&rdquo; We should forgive not only for the sake of others, but also for the sake of our own mental and spiritual health. We must place our anger, pain, and desire to get even in God&rsquo;s hands so that we&rsquo;re no longer tormented by them.
Is there someone you need to forgive today? Are you harboring a grudge toward someone? Forgive. Forgive whoever has hurt you. As Jesus said in Luke 6:37, &ldquo;Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven&rdquo; (NLT).
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What would forgiveness look like in your life?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you. 

*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God&rsquo;s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from&nbsp;<a href="https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/">Pastor Greg Laurie</a>, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.&nbsp;
*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Greg Laurie provides commentary on the day's Bible verse.