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Daily Devotions

Lingering Guilt

By February 6, 2016No Comments

Read Genesis 50:15-20

And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. Genesis 50:15 KJV

Have you noticed quilt has a way of lingering in our lives even when we have been told we are forgiven? Seventeen years have passed since Joseph and his brothers were reunited. Joseph has been good to them the whole time; their every need has been cared for. So, why were they still plagued with guilt? Very often, a big part of it is, long after God and others have forgiven us, we still have not forgiven ourselves. Also, sometimes we project our own feelings onto those who truly have forgiven us. They did not believe Joseph because in their own hearts they could not have reacted with the same attitude and actions as he did. In their thinking no one is able to overlook the terrible things they did without some kind of retaliation. There is only one way to overcome this, by faith, take God and others at their word. If they no longer hold our sin against us neither should we.

Lord, once forgiven, how grateful I am you do not continue to hold my sins against me. Sometimes however I do struggle believing I am forgiven, strengthen my faith that I can take you at your word and live in the confidence of it.

A question to ponder: How does our inability to forgive ourselves hinder our relationship with God and others?