Heart in Bloom

“The Story of Joseph offers examples of how forgiving others brings blessings:

The story of Joseph in the Old Testament scriptures shows us the true meaning of forgiveness. Joseph is one of the most exciting characters in the bible and is an example of overcoming adversity no matter how bad the circumstances seem to be. The biblical writers tell the story of Joseph in the chapters of Genesis 37 to 40.

The godly qualities of Joseph’s life are something all of us need to consider and try to follow in our own lives. Joseph never lost his faith in God.

Later when Joseph got out of prison and rose to a position of power in Egypt, he didn’t seek revenge, instead, he forgave those who had mistreated him. The mercy he later showed to his brothers is a shining example of how we should forgive other people. Joseph chose not to hate anyone but rather to show love, he knew that the best way to deal with injustice is to overcome evil with good, as the bible says we should. God’s love brought him through it all and left his heart filled with love. God doesn’t want us to allow those hardships to turn our spirit bitter.

The apostle Paul wrote, ‘And we know that all things work together for good in them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.’ (Romans 8:28) Despite all kinds of hardship Joseph believed that God would be with him and bless his life. He remained faithful and God made everything work out good for him and his entire family.

What about your life? Are you faithful to God even when problems arise? Are you willing to forgive others no matter how much it hurts?

It is hard to forgive others, until God’s love fills our heart and soul. One of the toughest things to do in life is to forgive, but what’s the purpose of carrying a grudge? It hurts the one who carries it much worse than the one it’s held against. Those who can’t forgive a mate or friend brings lots of grief on everyone involved, and there’s nothing to be gained by refusing to forgive. The first thing we need to realize and remember is that no one is perfect, we all make mistakes and we all do things that could make someone else mad or make them feel bad.

Listen to the inspired words of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians: ‘Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.’ (Colossians 3:12-14)

Without love, none of us has the capacity to truly forgive those who hurt us, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Forgiving keeps the soul and body healthy. Forgiving allows us to re-establish relationships. Forgiving maintains gratitude for God’s grace. You have been forgiven by God and by his son Jesus Christ. Give your burden of bitterness to God and allow it to be removed from your heart and mind. Give into the Holy Spirit’s correction when you’re tempted not to forgive. ‘When you stand praying if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’ (Mark 11:25)

If we’re grateful and faithful, we’re going to witness miracles every day! Simple faith certainly brings meaning and order to our lives, but it doesn’t ensure that things won’t go wrong at times. But do we let unpleasant situations get us down or do we remain strong in our faith, knowing that the Lord is by our side.

If we can have faith in trusting God to lead us where we should go, we then have time to enjoy the blessings God places all around us. We can also begin having faith, so we can help those who may lack faith. By practicing the Golden Rule ‘to do to others as we would want them to do to us,’ we are walking in the footsteps of Christ our Savior. He showed love and kindness to everyone He met, even when they didn’t return it. Yes, the heart of Christ’s teaching is love. And our Savior not only forbids treating others spitefully, but He also commands us to love everyone – even our enemies.

Stop judging others, and you will not be judged, stop criticizing others or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. These are the precious words of Jesus our Savior. Should we not do our best to obey them. ‘Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:17)

God our Father not only forgives us in Christ but He adopts us as well. And it all happens in a very mysterious way that unbelievers fail to understand. So to someone who would look at this situation objectively, it would seem hopeless. But not for God, He made it possible for our sins to be forgiven by sending his only son who was punished on the cross for our sins. In this way, God’s justice and His love were equally honored – just as a wise judge finds a way to make things right. This doesn’t end with forgiveness. It would have been enough if the Lord would have just cleansed our name, but He didn’t stop there. He gives us his name – making us adoptive sons of God.

The apostle Paul describes this adoption so wonderfully. This resurrection life you received from God’s spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we are – Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us. ‘The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.’ (Romans 15:17)

‘You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.’

‘Be kind to one another tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.’”