Return to sender
by Darren Pope
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance (Genesis 45:7).
Ding-dong, ding-dong. Greeted with a smile, scan and signature, another package is delivered to our door. E-commerce is a burgeoning business fuelled by our desire for deliveries. Australians ordered and received well in excess of 1.5 billion items in the last 12 months, delivered to doorsteps at a rate of 40 parcels per second for the entire year.
It’s simple, right? Robots sort, courier vans scurry, scanners chirp, and clients collect. Well, simple most of the time. Eighties fluoro-pink leg warmers addressed to a stranger and delivered mid-summer just doesn’t make much sense! Only one course of action now; I need to return the item to the sender.
The love of a family can be a beautiful and complex thing. It was for Joseph. When he greeted his brothers after so long apart, injustice may have led to wielding great power as a weapon. Instead, he wrapped his arms around his brothers in gracious love. Joseph tells his family three times that God sent him ahead of them to help prepare a way. Again, Joseph deflects all purpose away from earthly kingdoms and points to God’s glory. His gentleness and authenticity in love point his brothers back to our loving Lord. He turns their eyes and encourages them to ‘return to the sender’. Is this just a story of a man and his brothers? Who is preparing the way and why? Even way back in Genesis, we look forward to the coming of Christ, the king, to prepare a way for us.
It’s always God’s work – for us, to us, and through us. God sends each of us a personalised delivery of unconditional love through Christ each day. His grace, love and forgiveness arrive on our doorstep, fuelled by his desire to be in a relationship with us. This comes no matter what is happening in our lives or what we have or haven’t done. His love doesn’t have rules or conditions for delivery. It’s free and always reliable. In response, with my whole being, I return to the sender.
My Lord and King, I got your delivery today. Personally addressed to me, it was packed full of your love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. I return again to you and live in your deep love. Thank you. Amen.
As a life-long learner, Darren has a heart to share the gospel through Lutheran education. He treasures time with family, is a mad VW Kombi fan, and loves to swim.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
