Today you should read: Genesis 46
Summer is one of the best times for student ministry. From camps to mission trips to the additional free time students have to hang out and grow in Christ. It’s amazing to see how much God uses those trips to save some and sanctify others. As rewarding as it is, it can be tough on my kids as I’m gone 4-6 weeks out of the 2 ½ months for such events. Each time that I come back from those week long events my kids will run up to me screaming my name, showering me with hugs and kisses and acting like I’ve been gone for years. It’s brought tears to my eyes many times and I’m sure it does the same to all parents reading this who are often away from their families because of work or other reasons.
However, these family reunions don’t compare to the reunion that Joseph and Jacob experienced in today’s Jumpstart passage. Can you imagine the joy in Joseph and Jacob’s heart when first seeing each other after Jacob thought his son was dead after all of those years? It says in v. 29 that Joseph fell on his father’s neck as they were embracing each other and that he just wept and wept and wept. Let this beautiful scene and chapter remind us of the great fruit that comes from forgiveness and reconciliation.
We saw a few chapters back how Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery and how they were reconciled after. Now we see the fruit of what that forgiveness and reconciliation brought. A father and son is reunited. God’s people are provided for in a time of famine. Faith in God’s promises as all of Jacob’s family moves knowing that God will bring them back to where He originally promised them, Caanan. Forgiveness and reconciliation is tough when you’re going through it but let today’s Scripture be a reminder from the Lord that there is great fruit that can come from it. We may not see it right away but there’s a reason why, at the time, it hurt Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, but in the end it forgave us and reconciles us back to God.
- Is there anyone that you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness?
- How does the Gospel encourage us to forgive/ask for forgiveness and give us the power to follow through with it?
By: Erik Koliser
JumpstartCPC.com 
Thanks Erik! Your commentary helped paint the perfect picture. Good word.