Genesis 39:6-12 (New International Version)
" So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"
But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house."
He ran out of the house. Joseph ran from sin. How many of us run from sin? Sometimes society makes sin OK, hardly recognizable, statements we've all heard like "It's OK to look, just don't touch", "They're a big company, they won't notice it missing" and ofcourse "everybody else does it". All too often christians care more of what man thinks than what God thinks.
Sometimes we use scripture wrongly to defend our lust for acceptance from the world, like Paul's words to the Corinthians
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (New International Version)
"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
This is pretty open minded teaching. Clearly Paul is calling people to accept and serve others no matter where they're at in there life, for the purpose of spreading the gospel.However he makes clear that he is not free from God's law but under Christ's law. He's not tempting himself to sin or condoning what others do.
It's a question of where do we step away from modelling christian life and obedience to God and cross over into promoting or encouraging acts and behaviors that are ungodly or tempting to others or ourselves?
I think , like a very strong swimmer, sure he can handle the rivers current, we in our flesh often believe our faith is stronger than Satan's temptations . To keep jumping in that river is foolhardy just the same. The current eventually wears you down. Just look at the broken lives and relationships of people who thought they were stronger than they were.
Though it's nice to be open minded in many situations and to try new and untried things. To reach out and enjoy others diverse and unique qualities there is a limit to what is and isn't acceptable to God and deep down I believe we all know our individual weaknesses. We all know what kind of temptation satan can use to wash us away, when we see it approach we need to be like Jonathan and .... RUN!!
My wife Lora told me of a story by Chuck Swindoll. It was about a time in his military service. All the young men in his platoon were out having fun and at some point in the night someone suggested going to "the strip" where they could relax with the company of some "professional girls". Apparently some of the other men taunted him, "What's the matter don't you like it", he said ofcourse he liked it, it wouldn't be temptation if he didn't like it (satans evil not stupid).Anyway, apparently Chuck Swindoll literally ran as fast as he could through "the strip" when ever they came there stating that it was impossible for him to run and lust at the same time.
I probably messed the story all up,It's third hand. But the message is still great. You and God are the only one's who really know when temptation is creeping up. Don't be afraid to run.
" So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"
But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house."
He ran out of the house. Joseph ran from sin. How many of us run from sin? Sometimes society makes sin OK, hardly recognizable, statements we've all heard like "It's OK to look, just don't touch", "They're a big company, they won't notice it missing" and ofcourse "everybody else does it". All too often christians care more of what man thinks than what God thinks.
Sometimes we use scripture wrongly to defend our lust for acceptance from the world, like Paul's words to the Corinthians
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (New International Version)
"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
This is pretty open minded teaching. Clearly Paul is calling people to accept and serve others no matter where they're at in there life, for the purpose of spreading the gospel.However he makes clear that he is not free from God's law but under Christ's law. He's not tempting himself to sin or condoning what others do.
It's a question of where do we step away from modelling christian life and obedience to God and cross over into promoting or encouraging acts and behaviors that are ungodly or tempting to others or ourselves?
I think , like a very strong swimmer, sure he can handle the rivers current, we in our flesh often believe our faith is stronger than Satan's temptations . To keep jumping in that river is foolhardy just the same. The current eventually wears you down. Just look at the broken lives and relationships of people who thought they were stronger than they were.
Though it's nice to be open minded in many situations and to try new and untried things. To reach out and enjoy others diverse and unique qualities there is a limit to what is and isn't acceptable to God and deep down I believe we all know our individual weaknesses. We all know what kind of temptation satan can use to wash us away, when we see it approach we need to be like Jonathan and .... RUN!!
My wife Lora told me of a story by Chuck Swindoll. It was about a time in his military service. All the young men in his platoon were out having fun and at some point in the night someone suggested going to "the strip" where they could relax with the company of some "professional girls". Apparently some of the other men taunted him, "What's the matter don't you like it", he said ofcourse he liked it, it wouldn't be temptation if he didn't like it (satans evil not stupid).Anyway, apparently Chuck Swindoll literally ran as fast as he could through "the strip" when ever they came there stating that it was impossible for him to run and lust at the same time.
I probably messed the story all up,It's third hand. But the message is still great. You and God are the only one's who really know when temptation is creeping up. Don't be afraid to run.
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