The Fourth Week of February
We Read…
When was the last time you forgave someone? Was it easy to do? When was the last time you had to ask for forgiveness? How did those two experiences compare? In Genesis, we meet a boy named Joseph. Joseph’s brothers were sick of him being the favorite child, so they did what any reasonable sibling would do and pushed him down a hole before selling him off to the quickest bidder (I’m just kidding; please don’t do this to your sibling!). Even though Joseph was met time and time again with challenges, he kept his eyes on God. Eventually, Joseph landed in Egypt, saved the people from a major drought, and was reunited with his brothers.
Can you imagine being one of the brothers in this story? Can you feel how heavy that weight would have been, knowing that for years you’ve been lying to your dad? You thought that your brother was dead, and now he’s saving your life? Even though he had every reason not to, Joseph forgives his brothers. He points to God's good work in his life, even though his brothers meant to harm him. What must it have felt like to receive that kind of forgiveness?
Jesus tells us in Luke 6 to turn the other cheek, do good to the people who don’t deserve it, and love our enemies. He tells us to treat others like we want to be treated, to treat others like God has already treated us. It’s way easier said than done! But when we love like Jesus, treat others like Jesus, and forgive like Jesus, God is working through us. When we do these things, we proclaim the good news of Jesus through our words and actions. And maybe one day, those who have harmed us will see God’s work, love, and grace in the world through us.
Genesis 45:3–11
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m Joseph! Is my father really still alive?” His brothers couldn’t respond because they were terrified before him.
4 Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” and they moved closer. He said, “I’m your brother Joseph! The one you sold to Egypt. 5 Now, don’t be upset and don’t be angry with yourselves that you sold me here. Actually, God sent me before you to save lives. 6 We’ve already had two years of famine in the land, and there are five years left without planting or harvesting. 7 God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive and to rescue your lives in this amazing way. 8 You didn’t send me here; it was God who made me a father to Pharaoh, master of his entire household, and ruler of the whole land of Egypt.
9 “Hurry! Go back to your father. Tell him this is what your son Joseph says: ‘God has made me master of all of Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t delay. 10 You may live in the land of Goshen, so you will be near me, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everyone with you. 11 I will support you there, so you, your household, and everyone with you won’t starve, since the famine will still last five years.’
Genesis 45:15
15 He kissed all of his brothers and wept, embracing them. After that, his brothers were finally able to talk to him.
Psalm 37:1–11
1 Don’t get upset over evildoers;
don’t be jealous of those who do wrong,
2 because they will fade fast, like grass;
they will wither
like green vegetables.
3 Trust the Lord and do good;
live in the land, and farm faithfulness.
4 Enjoy the Lord,
and he will give what your heart asks.
5 Commit your way to the Lord!
Trust him! He will act
6 and will make your righteousness
shine like the dawn,
your justice like high noon.
7 Be still before the Lord,
and wait for him.
Don’t get upset when
someone gets ahead—
someone who invents evil schemes.
8 Let go of anger and leave rage behind!
Don’t get upset—it will only lead to evil.
9 Because evildoers will be eliminated,
but those who hope in the Lord—
they will possess the land.
10 In just a little while
the wicked won’t exist!
If you go looking around their place,
they won’t be there.
11 But the weak will inherit the land;
they will enjoy a surplus of peace.
Psalm 37:39–40
39 The salvation of the righteous
comes from the Lord;
he is their refuge in times of trouble.
40 The Lord will help them
and rescue them—
rescue them from the wicked—
and he will save them
because they have taken refuge in him.
1 Corinthians 15:35–38 (CEB)
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come back?” 36 Look, fool! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t come back to life unless it dies. 37 What you put in the ground doesn’t have the shape that it will have, but it’s a bare grain of wheat or some other seed. 38 God gives it the sort of shape that he chooses, and he gives each of the seeds its own shape.
1 Corinthians 15:42–50
42 It’s the same with the resurrection of the dead: a rotting body is put into the ground, but what is raised won’t ever decay. 43 It’s degraded when it’s put into the ground, but it’s raised in glory. It’s weak when it’s put into the ground, but it’s raised in power. 44 It’s a physical body when it’s put into the ground, but it’s raised as a spiritual body.
If there’s a physical body, there’s also a spiritual body. 45 So it is also written, The first human, Adam, became a living person, and the last Adam became a spirit that gives life. 46 But the physical body comes first, not the spiritual one—the spiritual body comes afterward. 47 The first human was from the earth made from dust; the second human is from heaven. 48 The nature of the person made of dust is shared by people who are made of dust, and the nature of the heavenly person is shared by heavenly people. 49 We will look like the heavenly person in the same way as we have looked like the person made from dust.
50 This is what I’m saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s kingdom. Something that rots can’t inherit something that doesn’t decay.
Luke 6:27-38
27 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. 31 Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you.
32 “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High.
We Think…
What stands out to you in these verses? Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church? What are you considering?
What questions come to mind?
What does good news mean to you?
How do you think Joseph’s brothers felt when he forgave them?
Why did Jesus tell his listeners to turn the other cheek and give away their shirts?
We Feel…
What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?
When have you struggled to trust God? When has it been easy to trust God?
Have you ever experienced offering or receiving forgiveness that wasn’t deserved?
We Believe…
How many movies have you seen (or heard of) that incorporate zombies somehow? Probably at least a few. Usually, zombies are presented as gross, decaying, lifeless, slow-moving…you get the picture, right? They’re usually not what we think of when we imagine humanity at its finest. So, when the early church was teaching about God resurrecting Jesus from the dead and the final resurrection of all believers, can you see why they would be a little freaked out? Will we be zombies? Will we be shells of our former selves, decaying, smelling, and inching along? What kind of life would that be? Paul offers correction, first by explaining that this isn’t even the most important question. And then he points the Corinthians to what matters - God will take care of us forever. We may not know all of the details of what the future holds (and by may not, I mean we don’t know), but we do know that God has us.
We Practice…
Who do you need to forgive today? Who can you choose to love, even though they have not loved you first? Pray the verses from Psalm 37 for this week, and consider who comes to mind when you read this. Pray that you can have a heart, mind, and life that reflects Christ. Share this with a trusted adult or small group (avoid using names when discussing in a group or with peers). Then, if you are willing, offer this forgiveness - in your heart or out loud to this person if needed.
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