Do you ever replay the mistakes (or sins) you have made in the past in your head and condemn yourself over and over? If something goes wrong in your life, you think God is punishing you for those mistakes (sins)?

But did you know that God can and often does use our wrong doings and turn them around for good? Even though we were sinning intentionally, God uses even our sins to bring about the good?

Let me give you an example. Joseph says to his brothers, “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.” Gen 50:20

Joseph is one of 12 brothers. His father, Jacob, favored him, and thus he was hated by his brothers. They plot against him and sells him to Egyptians as a slave. But 13 years later, he becomes the prime minister of Egypt and when his brothers, unknowingly, come to visit Egypt to buy grain, he reveals himself to them. And rather than taking revenge on them, he provides for them and their family. Exactly when they were expecting retribution, Joseph shows them kindness and grace and mercy.

Why? Because Joseph realized that God used their evil deed to bring him to Egypt so that eventually he will save their lives as the prime minister of the land.

That’s what you and I have done to Jesus. With our sins, we have gotten rid of Jesus, our brother. With each and every sin, we were rejecting Him and stepping on His heart over and over. We have heard of what He has done for us, but we loved our sins more than Him. But when bottom drops out and our lives become empty, we feel as though He is finally punishing us for our evil deeds. But He is not. Rather, He is using our brokenness and the consequences of our sins to draw us to Him. We meant for evil and turned against Him, but He meant for good for us to turn toward Him.

When we experience this mercy and grace, we WANT TO turn from our sins. And as experiences of His kindness and goodness overwhelm our desire to sin, that’s when we are abiding in Him and experiencing His joy.

Don’t dwell on your past sins. Dwell on Christ.

PH