Unforgiveness: Justice

'I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you...' And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

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

Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 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. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.' And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:17-21 (NKJV)

Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Luke 23:34 (NKJV)

  • Abraham forgave Lot, who disdained him.

  • Jacob forgave Laban, who cheated him.

  • Joseph forgave the brothers who sold him.

  • Job forgave friends, who falsely accused him.

  • Moses forgave Aaron’s idolatry.

  • David forgave Saul’s murderous madness.

  • Steven forgave the mob who murdered him.

  • Paul forgave his jailers, and he blessed them.

  • Jesus forgave and forgives EVERYONE! *

Forgiveness is a theme of the Bible. All God’s leading stars… forgave and forgive.

  • Because heroes have better things to do than to hold on to deadly resentment.

  • Because resentment becomes an anchor that prevents people from moving forward,

  • Because moving forward is essential to reach our God-appointed destinies.

  • Because God Himself is our Anchor, the One Anchor Who empowers freedom.

  • Because free movement requires free thinking, and free thinking requires a God-filled heart.

  • Because to believe in the Word of God is to believe in God's justice system:

'For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King' (Isaiah 33:22). 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?' (Genesis 18:25). 'For He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity' (Psalm 98:9).

  • Because only God knows each human heart, as well as the past, present, and future.

  • Because if we fully trust our Father, we trust He can and will right every wrong.

'I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds' (Jeremiah 17:10). 'For we know Him Who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay' ' (Hebrews 10:30).

'And the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge' (Psalm 50:6).

Unforgiveness: Justice (Part 2)

* Jesus forgives every repentant sinner who asks, no matter the quantity or severity of their crimes, even if it’s only moments before their death. (Note the sinner on the cross next to Jesus in the Book of Luke. 

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban