Lingering Guilt - God's Answer

And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. - Genesis 42:21

The Bible tells of the children of Jacob, the patriarch, throwing their brother into a pit then selling him to foreigners. They got rid of their brother but they could not get rid of their guilt. Years later, and probably every time something bad happened, they remembered that terrible selfish deed as if it was yesterday.

Guilt is like that. It keeps popping up no matter how long it is ignored or who gets the blame. It demands resolution, justice, payment.

The Bible also tells us God's answer for guilt is Christ,

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: - Colossians 1:14

God's answer for guilt is to confess, not deny, the wrong and ask for the forgiveness Christ provided.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1st John 1:9

-fritz

Intended for Joy

"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted." - Psalm 89:15-16

God's people are intended to for joy. There are times of distress and sorrow but the majority of our daily experience should be upbeat. If that's not an accurate description of our experience something needs to change.

Jesus told his disciples to pray in his name, "that your joy may be full"¹, and it wasn't just intended for his original crew, the apostle John tells ordinary believers,

"these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." - 1st John 1:4

Don't blunt the impact by "spiritualizing" it or defining "joy" differently; do an honest assessment - do these verses describe you? I discovered they can.

Receiving anything from God, including joy, begins by: 1)Recognizing the need; 2) Choosing to believe what God offers is really available; 3) Asking to receive.

We were intended for joy.

- fritz

^{1 - John 16:24}