In Need of a New Beginning?

          

I can only imagine the mixture of feelings Joseph experienced as he faced his brothers who had abandoned him two decades earlier. Now his brothers were facing a crisis, and Joseph could save them from disaster. Joseph deliberately accused these brothers of being spies to set in motion his goal of reconciliation. 

Joseph proposed keeping Simeon, his half-brother, in custody while the others returned home to bring Benjamin, his full-brother, back to Egypt. Their response was guilt and fear. "Surely we are being punished because of our sin. Joseph pleaded for his life, but we would not listen." Unconfessed and unforgiven sin eventually evolves into a crisis. 

Although these brothers were experiencing a personal crisis, God was preparing for their redemption, reconciliation and a new beginning. This is God's way. We must do our part by repenting, seeking forgiveness and making amends for our sins. This builds a bridge for a new beginning.  Are you in need of a new beginning? Think about it.  

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The Lord sees what happens everywhere; he is watching us, whether we do good or evil.

~Proverbs 15:3 Good News Bible

And all wrongdoers will be repaid for the wrong things they do, because God judges everyone by the same standard.

~Colossians 3:25 Good News Bible

  

The people whom I dearly love, I always reprove and discipline. So keep on being earnest and once for all repent.

~Revelation 3:19 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People