sokin's devotional 80 - love
Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.
There are probably plenty of other passages that can show and teach us about the concept of love and compassion, but I was so moved by the heart of Joseph here and I couldn't help but see his honest love being poured out towards his brothers.
Genesis 43:30
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There are probably plenty of other passages that can show and teach us about the concept of love and compassion, but I was so moved by the heart of Joseph here and I couldn't help but see his honest love being poured out towards his brothers.
Love can't be concealed and it cannot be contained. Love should overflow outwardly beyond words and thoughts.
In this section of scripture, the love of Joseph (specifically compassion), overflows out of Joseph that he cannot contain himself when he comes face to face with his brothers.
From it we can see that:
- love is not self-seeking.
Joseph doesn't enact revenge on his brothers. On the contrary, he willingly gives and gives plenty. (money, food, housing, etc)
- love cannot be hidden.
Joseph's heart could not hide his emotions. On couple of occasions, he had to physically remove himself from the room to weep at the sight of his brothers.
- love is redemptive
Although his brothers sold him into slavery, the compassion Joseph had towards his family caused him to be able to reconcile with his brothers. Love conquers all fears, doubts...it is the bedrock on which reconciliation can occur.
- love is sacrificial.
Joseph gave precious food in the time of famine for free. On two occasions, he gave them all they asked for without asking them for anything in return.
But love also doesn't remain simply said, or written down on a blog.
Love moves and acts. Love does (thanks Bob Goff).
I am horrible at all this and more. As I come face to face with my sinful nature, fallenness, and selfish tendencies, I come face to face with the realization that I simply cannot love well.
But yet I, myself am loved.
Ferociously and unrelentingly.
I am reminded of Jesus and His love for me. His real, blood-spilt, painful, sacrificial, redemptive, unhidden, unconditional love for me.
I am reminded that I cannot love others well outside of knowing where true love comes from. Where it flows out from.
It flows from God. The love of God compels us and teaches us to love others well and in the way they ought to be loved.
We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19
In this section of scripture, the love of Joseph (specifically compassion), overflows out of Joseph that he cannot contain himself when he comes face to face with his brothers.
From it we can see that:
- love is not self-seeking.
Joseph doesn't enact revenge on his brothers. On the contrary, he willingly gives and gives plenty. (money, food, housing, etc)
- love cannot be hidden.
Joseph's heart could not hide his emotions. On couple of occasions, he had to physically remove himself from the room to weep at the sight of his brothers.
- love is redemptive
Although his brothers sold him into slavery, the compassion Joseph had towards his family caused him to be able to reconcile with his brothers. Love conquers all fears, doubts...it is the bedrock on which reconciliation can occur.
- love is sacrificial.
Joseph gave precious food in the time of famine for free. On two occasions, he gave them all they asked for without asking them for anything in return.
But love also doesn't remain simply said, or written down on a blog.
Love moves and acts. Love does (thanks Bob Goff).
I am horrible at all this and more. As I come face to face with my sinful nature, fallenness, and selfish tendencies, I come face to face with the realization that I simply cannot love well.
But yet I, myself am loved.
Ferociously and unrelentingly.
I am reminded of Jesus and His love for me. His real, blood-spilt, painful, sacrificial, redemptive, unhidden, unconditional love for me.
I am reminded that I cannot love others well outside of knowing where true love comes from. Where it flows out from.
It flows from God. The love of God compels us and teaches us to love others well and in the way they ought to be loved.
We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19
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