Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 16
Wednesday


DEFINING
MOMENT

READ:
Genesis 50:15-21
__________________________________

You meant evil against
me; but God meant it
for good... to save
many people alive.
__Genesis
__________________________________

One year ago, people around the world were stunned by a shooting rampage that left 32 victims dead on the campus of Virginia Tech University. In the aftermath, the mother of one critically wounded student who survived said she did not want the ordeal to become the defining moment in her son's life. Instead, she hoped it could be "something positive, some great celebration of his life."

When the unthinkable happens, it may seem impossible to the believer that anything can overcome the emotional scars. Yet, the life of Joseph offers a powerful illustration of God's transforming power (Gen. 37-50). The brothers who sold him into slavery were sure he would take revenge on them (50:15-17). But Joseph told them, "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (v.20).

When we place our desire for revenge in God's hands, we become participants in the remarkable process described by Paul: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21).

The defining moments of our lives are not determined by the evil done to us, but by our response through the grace and power of God. __David McCasland
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``````````````When rough the path from day to day,```````````````
``````````````When sorrows fill our eyes with tears,````````````````
```````````````Our choice to find our hope in Christ````````````````
``````````Can lift our soul and calm our fears. __D. De Haan`````````
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Let danger drive you to Jesus.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Genesis 50:15-21***********

15 when Joseph's brothers
saw that their father was
dead, they said, "Perhaps
Joseph will hate us, and
may actually repay us for
all the evil which we did to
him." 16 So they sent
messengers to Joseph,
saying, "Before your father
died he commanded,
saying, 17 'Thus you shall
say to Joseph: "I beg you,
please forgive the trespass
of your brothers and their
sin; for they did evil to
you." ' Now, please, forgive
the trespass of the servant
of the God of your father."
And Joseph wept when they
spoke to him.

18 Then his brothers also
went and fell down before
his face, and they said,
"Behold, we are your
servants."

19 Joseph said to them,
"Do not be afraid, for am I
in the place of God? 20 But
as for you, you meant evil
against me; but God meant
it for good, in order to bring
it about as it is this day, to
save many people alive.

21 Now therefore, do not be
afraid; I will provide for
you and your little ones."
And he comforted them and
spoke kindly to them.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Sometimes life's circumstances can be utterly depressing. Joseph
(Gen. 39-40) and the apostle Paul both experienced imprisonment. Yet they were able to reflect an ultimately positive perspective.
Paul wrote: "But I want you to know, brethren, that the things
which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance
of the gospel" (Phil. 1:12). Paul was able to have a positive view of
life because he could see that the activity of God was not prevented
from working even in a seemingly limiting environment.
__Dennis Fisher

[realtmg]

Sometimes we are afflicted for Him to get our attention and realize we have to look up in order to move forward.

Thanks Cimi,

luv Ya,

Real