Joseph and Temptation - Genesis 39

 

Genesis 39 Joseph and Temptation

 

Sometimes you cannot talk someone out of doing wrong- you just must get out of the way.  Potiphar’s wife presented Joseph a problem.  Giving in to temptation would offend his master; resisting it would offend his master’s wife.  Joseph knew only one answer to his moral challenge; view it from God’s perspective.  Thus, he concluded that violating his sexual integrity would be a great wickedness and sin against God.  Joseph realized that he had no choice but to run! 

Temptation.  It whispers to us, appeals to our pleasure.  Arouses our interest,

 And can cause us to fall quickly.  Temptation is like stepping into quicksand of sin, many people respond in many ways.  Some ,weep bitterly with regret and shame, but most hide within the crevices of their soul- afraid, alone, hurt and ashamed with waves of guilt crashing in around them.  These feelings are common when we know we have gone too far, made the wrong choices, and led a reckless life.  When we make poor choices, we self-destruct- yet it was our choosing that got us there.

Temptation seems to creep around when we least expect it.  We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are strong and can handle it.  Satan knows just when to push our buttons.  At precisely the wrong time, when we are weak, and our defenses are down.  The enemy presents us with his temptation.  He has a way of deceiving us into thinking it is alright, making us see various shades of gray rather than the black and white of right and wrong.

Society says, “Live for the moment, seize the day!”  We do not have to look for sin; it finds us, even chases us.  By failing to walk or run from temptation we lose.  We lose strength, self-respect, health, security, and safety.  We embrace a life of regret.  And that is why we must guard our hearts.  Remember that temptation itself is not a sin.  Jesus was tempted – but yielding to temptation is sin.

Whatever our temptation is, we are never alone in it.  We have a mighty God who has the power to change us, make us godly people, satisfy our deepest needs, be our greatest defense against the enemy, deliver us from evil.  Our victory has already been won through Jesus Christ.