FORGIVENESS

This is Namma for Christ sharing with you my fourth inspirational message. This is being sent on 9/26/2012 - the subject and the title are the same: FORGIVENESS. The scripture is coming from: Mark 11:25 - "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses." Recently, at my church, the associate minister did a great job giving a sermon on Joseph, his brothers and "forgiveness". This minister showed how Joseph forgave His brothers for their mistreatment of him and how Jesus forgives us for our sins. We, as Christians try to live the best that we can - but all have sinned. We are all sinners saved by God's Grace. As Romans 3:23 reminds us - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." In Genesis 37:24, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and they cast him into a pit. Soon after, as found in Genesis 37:28, his brothers drew him out of the pit and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, who then took him to Egypt. As the bible story continues, Joseph rises in position to eventually be second in command over Egypt, right under Pharaoh. In Genesis 41:40, Pharaoh tells Joseph, "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." In verse Genesis 41:56, it states what happened after Joseph had wisely prepared and stored away food for the upcoming famine- "There was a famine over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians". The same brothers of Joseph who had put him into a pit, now had to bow before him for their very survival during the famine. But, how did Joseph react when his brothers were repentant and thought Joseph would take revenge on their wrongdoing? Joseph forgave. Joseph said in Genesis 45:5 - "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you". Joseph also said in Genesis 50:20 - "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive". In summary, man meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.... What does Jesus do when we come fearful and sorry for our wrongdoings...what does He do when we confess our sins? Jesus forgives...and He never stops loving us...Hebrews 13:5 says "I will never leave nor forsake thee." "Forgiveness" is surrendering "our right" to "hurt you" for "hurting me"....if Jesus can forgive "us"....how can we "not" forgive others for hurting us? 1st Peter 5:7 states : WE MUST CAST ALL OUR CARE ON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR US. JESUS IS THE ANSWER FOR ANY PROBLEM YOU OR I HAVE.... PLEASE ENJOY MATTHEW WEST'S VIDEO OF "FORGIVENESS" BELOW - AND PLEASE LISTEN TO THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG...THE LYRICS ARE POWERFUL.

BE BLESSED!

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx3z5hsZ_PQ