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Hello everyone, Shalom in Christ! Welcome again to the devotional program, “Joseph at the Marketplace” by GLOBAL REACHOUT. I am Tom Nohelty.
Day 17: The Heart of Forgiveness
Today, the Scripture is taken from: Genesis 42-45.
Theme verse:
“There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.” Genesis 45:11 (ESV)
The past two days have been confusing — if forgiveness can involve punishment and confrontation, how do you know if your motives are in the right place? How do you know if you are firing an employee because you are angry or because that truly is the right course of action for the organization and for them?
It comes down to our hearts. C.S. Lewis wrote:
The real test is this. Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one’s first feeling, “Thank God, even they aren’t quite so bad as that,” or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies as bad as possible? If it is the second, then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which, if followed to the end, will make us into devils.
Haven’t we all been there? Wouldn’t you feel the tiniest bit of satisfaction to hear that your workplace nemesis got caught embezzling company funds? C.S. Lewis’s take is on point:
I imagine somebody will say, “Well if one is allowed to condemn the enemy’s acts, and punish him, and kill him, what difference is left between Christian morality and the ordinary view?” All the difference in the world. Remember, we Christians think man lives forever. Therefore, what really matters is those little marks or twists on the central, inside part of the soul which are going to turn it, in the long run, into a heavenly or hellish creature. We may kill, if necessary, but we must not hate and enjoy hating. We may punish, if necessary, but we must not enjoy it. In other words, something inside us, the feeling of resentment, the feeling that wants to get one’s own back, must be simply killed. I do not mean that anyone can decide at this moment that he will never feel it anymore. That is not how things happen. I mean that every time it bobs its head up, day after day, year after year, all our lives long, we must hit it on the head. It is hard work, but the attempt is not impossible.
One caveat: Without God’s transforming work in our hearts, putting resentment aside is impossible. God set the bar high:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:29–5:2
This passage offers a key insight into how we love and forgive. It starts with understanding God’s forgiveness towards us. Without grounding ourselves in deep awe of the grace God has extended to us, we don’t have a hope of extending it to others.
There’s a whole lot more to forgiveness, with unique variables in every situation, every relationship. Sometimes the right thing is to overlook an offense, or to take disciplinary action. Sometimes the right thing is to confront evil. Whatever we do, we need to seek God’s heart for the people we interact with.
As Dan Allender and Tremper Longman wrote:
My central task is to do my business in such a way that I provide a context where everyone on my staff, including the boss(es), is invited to grow in wisdom and beauty. At times, even in service and work relationships, bold love will be necessary for growth to occur.11
Bold love may mean calling out toxic behavior or sub-par job performance. That’s not the sort of thing to rush into without first laying our hearts bare to examination. Consider these questions:
You can explore specifics in the recommended books from Day 15. For workplace scenarios, you may also benefit from mentorship with a seasoned, godly professional. But being able to forgive the way Joseph forgave starts with your understanding of the character of God. God’s forgiveness is the basis for ours.
Let’s Pray:
Lord, examine our lives in the light of Your Word. Give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us so that we will forgive and restore others. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Time for Reflections.
1. Read and reflect on Ephesians 4:29-5:2 again. What insights do you glean from it?
2. What do you need to change about your engagement in your workplace to reflect God’s heart of forgiveness?
3. What stood out to you most from the C.S. Lewis reading?