Month: August 2024

Forgiving the Unforgivable

Our text is Genesis 50:20.

“As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.”

Here’s the backstory for this amazing scripture. Joseph had eleven brothers who threw him into a pit, sold him as a slave, and deceived their father into believing that a wild animal had killed him. Years later, they found themselves living in Egypt, a land essentially ruled by the very brother they had sold into slavery.

Imagine being in Joseph’s position. If your siblings had sold you as a slave, would you be able to forgive them? Listen to Joseph’s words to them, “You meant it for harm, but God intended it for good.” 

I admire that kind of heart. Not only did Joseph forgive his brothers, but he also welcomed them back into his life. Joseph also adds, “Do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

Despite being sold into slavery and enduring many years of hardship, Joseph embraced his brothers again. 

I will leave you with the words of another writer: “Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.”

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

A Thief in the Family

Our text for today is Proverbs 28:24:

“He who robs his father or mother, saying, ‘It is not wrong,’ is a companion to the man who destroys.”

Living a long life allows you to witness many things. I’ve seen grown children, aware that their last parent is dying, enter the house and take valuable items. This certainly fits today’s proverb, but robbing one’s parents can take many forms. Financial exploitation, neglecting the care of elderly parents, misusing their money, failing to provide needed support, or being disrespectful and ungrateful are all ways of robbing them.

You might think, “I would never do that.” Yet, it is common enough that 2,800 years ago, the wise man had to warn against it. Notice especially the last part of the verse: “He who robs his father or mother, saying, ‘It is not wrong,’ is a companion to the man who destroys.” This means that mistreating your parents makes you akin to someone who causes great harm.

I’m blessed in that my kids treat me better than I could ever deserve, but this is a warning we all need to hear and perhaps share with a friend.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text today is Proverbs 29:18.

“Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.”

One poet said, “Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” We all need a vision for what we want to be. However, today’s text does not talk about this kind of vision. The “vision” here is not a dream or a goal, but a word, a revelation from God.

What Proverbs tells us is, “When people lack divine guidance, they lose their way.”

In 1962, we removed prayer to God from our schools. Since then, we hauled away statues of the Ten Commandments from our courthouses. We prosecuted coaches who dared to pray before the violent sport of football. Crime runs rampant in our streets.

When I read this verse, I understand why there is sin all around us.

In times like these, we must remember that Christians before us lived under repressive leaders who would kill them for being Christians. We are blessed to live in a time where we vote, read our Bibles, and worship openly.

This proverb is a personal message for us about how we will accept God’s revelation.

Read and treasure it so that we don’t lose our way.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.