Revenge or Reconciliation?

Joseph's brothers hated him for his high and lofty dreams about them becoming his servants. They hated him because their dad loved him the most. They wanted him dead, but they sold him into slavery and lied to their dad with his  robe of many colors bloodied with the slaughter of a goat. They wanted to harm Joseph, but God had another plan. Joseph became the servant of Potifer, then the governor of the land, second in command to the king.

During a great famine Joseph's brothers came for grain to feed their families. They bowed before Joseph (fulfillment of a dream). When Joseph recognized his brothers, he had the opportunity to carry out revenge, but he chose to forgive.

God sent the law through Moses to teach people how to live with love for each other. They learned how to keep records of their good deeds and became prideful. God loved the world so much He send His Son Jesus to show us how to live, even to the point of taking our place on the cross for our sin, so we would experience forgiveness.

Forgiveness is vital in relationships with people and with God. Since God forgave us, we ought also to forgive one another for wrongs done against us.

Think About It
Have you hurt someone with lies or taken something that wasn't yours? Has someone lied about you? Has anyone robbed you of something special? Like Joseph, you have a choice to get even or to forgive. What will you do?

Pray About It
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Joseph's story. Teach me how to live more like You. Show me your ways even when I want to choose my ways. Amen.

Dialogue with Jesus

Experience God’s love through conversations Jesus had with Nicodemus,the Woman at the Well, Martha, Zacchaeus, Peter, the Roman Centurion, the Rich Young Ruler, Simon the Pharisee, the Adulterous Woman, and more.

Dialogue with Jesus is fifty-two devotions for families, written to teach children how to pray. Bible stories come alive and inspire questions, acceptance, love, and faith.

A book for families, but it can be used for teaching by home schooling mothers, Sunday school teachers, and in mentoring relationships.

Each devotion includes:

• A retold Bible story with Jesus' words in red
• A "Think About It" section, which applies Bible truth
• A "Pray About It" section with simple prayers kids can learn.

This book is a work in progress, born in the Mentoring Track at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Find similar devotions on my Talking with Jesus blog. 

Please leave your suggestions how I could make this a great devotional book for families.

My Dog Got Skunked

My dog, Maggie, can hear things that I can't. Sometimes I think she is imagining things. Like the other night--she kept going outside barking and barking. I thought she was chasing cats. She hates cats! Well, then I heard her running and barking around the apple tree. Then I smelled that horrible scent of a skunk and I knew Maggie was in trouble.

Half asleep, I went to the family room where the doggie door is. Maggie ran in scared, really scared. I picked her up (big mistake). She had that smell on her and the smell got on me. In my slumber I dowsed her and myself with baby powder and went back to sleep. Frankly, the powder didn't work. It smelled good at first but when I woke up, I realized we both got skunked, and so did our bed.

Getting skunked made me think how sin works. When I know I've done something that doesn't please God, I am tempted to do some wonderful things (like using baby powder) so God won't think about my sin. It doesn't work that way. I found out that when I confess my sin, God is faithful to forgive me. Then I don't have to worry about balancing the scale of doing good for every time I sin. The most important thing is that I pray for God to help me live for Him.

If you or your pet get skunked, don't use baby powder. Here are some things you can do that will help:

1. Don't pick up your pet without first wrapping it in a towel and don't let him/her touch anything in your house, especially your bed.
2. Bathe your dog using some of these solutions: a peroxide/baking soda bath, orange bath, soda bath, fabric softener bath, or commercial skunk smell removers. Find prices and directions here: http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/odor-removal/how-to-get-rid-of-skunk-smell/.

Application
Do you try to balance good deeds against wrong things you do? Remember this verse: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your faithfulness and always being here to get the stink of my sin off of me. I love you. Amen.


         

Joseph Forgave His Brothers

When Joseph saw his brothers, he accused them of being spies.

"Oh, no sir," they said. "We are the sons of one man, Jacob."

"Is this all of you or are there more brothers?"

"We have a younger brother and another one died."

When Joseph accused them of being spies again, they said to each other, "It's because of what we did to Joseph." Imagine what Joseph thought when he overheard them. He gave them grain and put their money back into their pouches.

"You must bring your younger brother next time, or I'll not give you more grain," Joseph told them.

"We could not do that to our father," they said. But Joseph insisted and he kept Simeon in jail to be sure they would return. When they did, they brought Benjamin, their younger brother. It was hard for Joseph not to reveal to them who he was. His servants provided dinner for Joseph and his brothers Then they filled his brother's sacks with grain again and returned their money into their pouches. In Benjamin's sack Joseph put his own silver cup.

Joseph's servant caught up to his brothers after they traveled a day or so. "Why have you exchanged evil for good?" they asked.

"We have done no evil!" they exclaimed.

"The governor's silver cup is gone and you took it."

"Oh no! We would not do such a thing!" cried the brothers. "Look in all our bags. If you find it, the owner of the bag will be your servant."

The governor's servant looked until he found the cup in Benjamin's bag. The brothers couldn't believe their eyes.

"Take me instead," said Judah. "I'll serve the governor, but don't take Benjamin." All the brothers had to go back to Egypt and they all bowed down to Joseph, breaking his heart. He had to leave the room to cry by himself. "Prepare dinner for my guests," he told his servants. Then he returned to his brothers and confessed he was Joseph their brother whom they sold into slavery. Filled with fear, they were speechless until he wrapped his arms around each of them and kissed them.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "You meant to harm me but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many, as He is now doing." (Genesis 50:20).

Then Joseph ate with his brothers and caught up on old times. He told them to go home and bring his father and all his relatives, seventy-five in all, back to Egypt. And that reunion was sweeter than the first.

Joseph could have taken revenge on his brothers, but he forgave them. Many bad things happened to Joseph but God used them all to train him and make him wise for the position of Governor of Egypt.

Sometimes we may not understand why we have to experience tough times, but we can trust God as Joseph did, and choose to do what is right.

Application
Joseph's brothers were afraid when he invited them to eat at his table. They were afraid when he barked at them for being spies. They were afraid when his cup was found in Benjamin's bag. Have you been afraid? Remember what Joseph said to his brothers. "Don't be afraid.You meant to harm me but God intended it for good, the saving of many as He is now doing." Remember that God loves you and He is always with you. Remember that "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we praise you for your faithfulness, even when we are not faithful. Thank you for your love and blessing on us. Help us to trust You and not be afraid. Amen.