Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “True Greatness”
Our Bible verse for today: “But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result – the survival of many people. Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:19-21 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “A truly great person can rise above feelings of pettiness and grudges.”
This morning I want to return to the story of Joseph as related by Moses in Genesis chapters 37-50 because right at the end of it, we find one of the most important character traits demonstrated by those who have developed true greatness. Such people are able to rise above feelings of pettiness and they have learned not to harbor grudges. They’re able to step back from the offense, see the bigger picture, and be gracious and kind towards those who have hurt them.
Such was the case with Joseph. The conduct of his brothers towards him had been sinful, cruel, and criminal. It caused Joseph thirteen long years of suffering. Therefore, from the perspective of basic human nature, it probably wouldn’t surprise us if we read of Joseph harboring and nursing a grudge against his brothers and, when the opportunity presented itself, seeking revenge.
But Joseph was a bigger man than that. He was able to maintain a proper perspective. He understood that God was sovereign over those circumstances and that He was at work in the middle of them to bring about some good thing. Although Romans 8:28 obviously didn’t exist in Joseph’s day, the great spiritual truth it presents did exist, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purposes.”
So Joseph forgave his brothers and ended up being the source of great blessings to them. They still suffered some consequences from the wrong they committed against Joseph. They lived for thirteen years with the guilt of what they had done. And as we read in chapters 42-45, they did have to go through a period of confession and repentance. But still, the character of Joseph was such that he was able to rise above the offense and be a blessing to those who had hurt him.
There’s a profound and important lesson in this for us. I personally believe that how easily we’re offended to begin with is a measure of our spiritual maturity. A spiritually mature person is not easily offended. And likewise, once we have been wronged, the degree to which we harbor a grudge, and our willingness or unwillingness to forgive, is also a measure of spiritual maturity. That doesn’t mean that we allow people to escape responsibility for what they have done. But it does mean that we find ways to work through it with them, and then we let it go and move on.
A truly great man or woman of God does not indulge in pettiness and does not harbor grudges.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 