The True God
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding , so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little Children, keep yourselves from idols. - 1 John 5:19-21
This week we reflect on Christ, the True God.
The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Earlier this week I came across a passage at the end of Genesis that I had never given much attention to. It is nearing the end of Jacob’s life, Joseph and his brothers have been through their whole saga and the brothers just don’t seem to understand that Joseph could have possibly forgiven them for all they did to him. Watch what they do, and pay attention to how Joseph responds.
Read Genesis 50:15-21
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
(NIV, I added emphasis)
Two things jump out when I read this.
Forgiveness, true forgiveness, can be extremely hard to accept. Joseph accepted his brothers to Egypt in a time of intense famine. Joseph had a peace about all of this that came from God alone. Forgiveness takes two to tango. Forgiveness was already given to them… all they had to do was accept… but then…
Joseph’s brothers still just could not believe that he could have possibly forgiven them. So they lie to Joseph.
They LIE. Their inability to accept Joseph’s forgiveness leads them right back into the same sin that got them there in the first place. Our own doubts and fears influence us in the same way. We tell ourselves a story, true or not, and it can lead us to sin.
Second, Joseph wept. I’ve thought about that a lot. Did he know they were lying? Or did he just not believe that they could still think he intended them harm after all that had happened? Did their brokenness and entrapment in their delusions bring him to tears?
Jesus is the TRUTH. He’s the real deal. His words are truth. His presence is truth. His message is truth.
What truth about Christ do you doubt?
Do you believe He is your advocate?
Do you accept that He could forgive you? Of all your sins? Of all your future sin?
Do you believe He LOVES you?
Do you believe His Spirit is at work in you? Whispering in your ear? Like Paul urging the Corinthians, do you not know that you yourself are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Do you believe he is good?
These are the deep truths of God that can be so hard to grasp at times. The evil one wants us to believe that these things just can’t be. Because he knows when we doubt this truth, we respond just as Joseph’s brothers. We react out of that doubt instead of walking in truth.
So… stop walking in doubt. Walk in the truth of Christ. There is freedom in that walk. There is everlasting life in that walk. There is complete absence of fear in that walk. Believe it. Live it.
PRAY. Father God, you are good, you are the true God. Help me to live in the freedom of your truth by showing me anew your goodness in the midst of my uncertainty. Fix my eyes, my mind, my soul, and my heart to your truth, your goodness. You are all I need, all I desire. From every fear, every desire not of you, deliver me, great Deliverer.
Worship. I am captivated by this song - read these verses, find yourself in them, respond to God, ask for His deliverance.
Verse 1
From the love of my own comfort
From the fear of having nothing
From a life of worldly passions
Deliver me O God
Verse 2
From the need to be understood
And from a need to be accepted
From the fear of being lonely
Deliver me O God
Deliver me O God
Verse 3
From the fear of serving others
Oh and from the fear of death or trial
And from the fear of humility
Deliver me O God
Yes deliver me O God