February 23, 2014 Act Now

Act Now

Genesis 43

Gen 43:30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.

JOSEPH wept with relief when he saw all his brothers after years of separation. And he wept for joy when his favorite brother Benjamin was brought to him. To Joseph, his life was made whole again because his family was back with him. All the glory and power he had in Egypt meant little to him compared to his family.

      Joseph wept, too, I’m sure, for the years he was separated from his family. He wept for time he could not get back. He wept for relationships he did not have, for family he hadn’t seen, for the time he could not spend with his father.

      I see this often in people whose lives are broken by family arguments, divorce and unforgiveness. Time is lost and can never be regained.

      What’s in your life that causes you sadness? Can you do something to cause change? Do you need to ask forgiveness from a family member or admit you were wrong about something? Do you need to be the first one to take a step to reconciliation?

      Joseph could have destroyed his brothers in vengeful hatred for what they did to him. Instead he wept and welcomed them with open arms—arms of joy and restoration. These are the same kind of arms Jesus had for his disciples as he returned to them from the tomb—the same kind of arms Jesus has for you now.

      Is reconciliation in your hands? Trust in Jesus, the one who has reconciled you to the Father. Act now. There is no getting back the time lost.

LIFE Link: Is it time?