Lord, help me realize I am responsible for myself, not anyone else

| Photo by Melanie Stander on Unsplash

The story of Joseph also gives us many lessons for our spiritual journey. In Genesis 50, Joseph’s father dies, and they bury him in Canaan. But the brothers are still scheming and trying to protect themselves.

Genesis 50: 15-17; “But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you – for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept.”

Why did Joseph weep?

• I wonder if he was saying, my brothers are at it again? They are still scheming their way through life.
• After all, I have done, and now they are questioning my forgiveness? I have told, shown, and cared for them, and now they are questioning me again.
• I have provided for them and their families, and now they think I am going to seek revenge.

Nothing is more important than our family relationships, and we must learn to accept people, but this does not mean we approve of everything they do.

We can learn from Joseph that our families and friends can reject, hurt, and not trust us, but we must learn to respond like Joseph. Lord, help us deal with our family in a spirit of love, compassion, and forgiveness. We cannot change them, but we can allow the Holy Spirit to change us daily!

Lord, help me realize I am responsible for myself, not anyone else. Help me to be more like Jesus!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Church (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at State‎n Island, New York, since 2011. He draws many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and significant emotional life experiences.

His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is getting rave reviews. His daily devotional appears in this publication.