Read: Genesis 37: 24-28

Reflect:
In today’s reading Joseph’s brothers try to get rid of him by selling him to a caravan of Ishmaelite traders for 20 shekels of silver.  Their thought is if they get rid of Joseph,” cancel” him from the family, their lives will be much better. This past year a lot of events have been cancelled (ER Chili Cook-off, Stouffville Strawberry Festival, Calgary Stampede, the CNE, etc.).  Sadly another trend has started where not only events but people are being cancelled. If something is discovered about someone that seems to be offensive or is against the current preferences of the culture then it is the norm to cancel that person.  In “cancel culture”, one mistake is unforgivable and that disgraceful act seems to define the person, giving them an identity that is shameful and thus worthy of being ‘cancelled’.  I recently read about a young man who was accepted to Harvard University but his acceptance was later rescinded when it was discovered he had put inappropriate messages on social media when he was 16 years old.  Even though he apologized and felt embarrassed by what he had done as a young teen he was ‘cancelled’ by Harvard and many others on Twitter.

In our society if it is discovered that you have trespassed, you get cancelled.  Jesus says I see all your trespasses, not just the one on social media five years ago…..I see them all.  But I will pay for them.  By nailing those sins to the cross I cancel all your trespasses and redeem you. Thankfully Jesus is so different from the world today because he says I am in the business of cancelling, but I cancel your trespasses, the charge against you, so I can redeem you.  We have a message of hope that the world is in desperate need of.  I am so thankful that Jesus is not like the world.  I think of Psalm 130:3-4 “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

Pray:
Pray Colossians 2:13-15 but make it personal.  (eg., Thank you Lord that when I was dead in my sins, You made me alive with Christ…)

Colossians 2: 13-15 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Jesus Cancelled Our Trespasses

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