OT DAY 102 - Before Reconciliation Happens (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Let us praise the Lord:

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

                                                            Psalm 30:4-5

Today's Reading: Genesis 44:1-34

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read Genesis 44:1-34

Chinese(CUV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=創 世 記 44&version=CUV
English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 44&version=ESV

Bible Study

      This is the third chapter describing how Joseph is playing games  with his brothers before reconciliation happened. You must be thinking if that is necessary. Is that what God wants him to do or is that his selfish idea? 

Let's take a look at what Professor John Goldingay says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Goldingay) :

    

     If we assume Joseph is not simply trying to exact revenge from his brothers, we can see him as handling this same dilemma: trying to combine a willingness to forgive with a rigour in seeking to get his brothers to face the facts about what they have done.  They have to be driven deeper into shame and into owning the implications of what they did years ago if they are to find true maturity and find reconciliation with their brother. 

John Goldingay. Genesis for Everyone - Part Two. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, p.157.

      Is it really so difficult to have reconciliation happened that Joseph had to do that? If you were Joseph, would you do the same thing? 

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: Before reconciliation happens

    What Jesus tells me today is a special situation when we need reconciliation to happen. For some deep wounds, there won't be any reconciliation until something dramatic happen. 

     I see God's hand on Joseph's case because I do not think that Joseph is self-centred , selfish or even cunning and evil. He wants to put a mirror to his brothers so that they can see what they have done at last. 

     Do you allow God do this to you through some other people so that reconciliation can happen? What's your strategy for reconciliation to happen?

Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to know what you want us to do in order that reconciliation can happen. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

    Please click this link to the app. Andy Ng wrote. You really need to use that if you have an Android cel. Andy said he is going to do the App. for iPhone later:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideal.rec.app

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJWZQyLzDRQ

10,000 Reasons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/

Rev. Nicky Gumbel's daily devotion: Bible in One Year

http://www.htb.org.uk/bio