TLIC FAMILY. DAY 23. JANUARY 23: FOR GOOD.

THINK TOGETHER

Did you ever think that something was going to be really bad, but it turned out to be really good?

READ TOGETHER

Jacob had 11 sons. But his youngest son, Joseph was his favorite. When Joseph was young he dreamed that he was a king ruling over his brothers and even his parents. This made Joseph’s older brothers hate him. And to make matters worse, Jacob would give Joseph special gifts including a colorful coat that made him look like that king from his dreams. Soon his brother’s hated him so much that they sold him as a slave to a faraway country called Egypt (do you know where Egypt is?). Life in Egypt was really hard for Joseph. But God never gave up on Joseph, and Joseph never gave up on God. God let Joseph rise to power in Egypt and used him to save the world from a terrible famine. Over time, Joseph had become the King’s right hand man!

One day, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt looking to buy food because they were starving. Joseph’s brothers didn’t recognize him at first because he was dressed like an Egyptian. But finally, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and boy were they were terrified! They thought for sure Joseph would kill them because they had been so mean to him all those years earlier. But listen to what Joseph said to his brothers:

Genesis 50:19-20. ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Joseph forgave his brothers for all their wickedness. How? Because he trusted that God had used their evil for good to save the world from the famine. Joseph knew that no matter how bad things get, God will always turn the bad things into good things. That what happened when Jesus died on the cross. The evil of the cross became the good of the resurrection and our forgiveness.  

Because of Jesus we know that everything bad done to us God will turn into our good.

With Jesus we can forgive others and do good to them, even if they hurt us.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Talk about how important it is to forgive. Is there anyone in your family that you need to ask for forgiveness or forgive?

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, you turn everything bad into good. Help us to be good to others even when others are bad to us. Amen.