LOOK AT JOSEPH & LISTEN TO PAUL
Bible Scholars and Bible Teachers tell us that Joseph, the son of Jacob is considered almost a perfect type of Christ in the Old Testament, the man who went from “pit to palace”, from “rags to riches”, there is simply nothing negative said about him in the Word of God. In this blog today I want to highlight just one awesome aspect of truth about him, we read in Genesis 39: 7-13 NKJV these words, And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and FLED AN RAN OUTSIDE. . And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside.
This was not a one off potential molestation, but day after day she tried to cause him to sin, she sure tried to wear him down, but Joseph knew the Grace of God and was able to FLEE AND RUN OUTSIDE.
I am immediately reminded of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22 FLEE also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. The Oxford dictionary says FLEE means to run away and seek safety, or leave abruptly. PURSUE means to “follow with intent to capture”. The MESSAGE Bible says Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.
When we think of the word lust we link it to illicit sexual activity, and this is what potentially could have happened with Joseph. Please note Paul puts the word in the plural LUSTS. What else was Paul alluding to.
The lust for MONEY
The lust for POWER
The lust for RECOGNITION
The lust for HONOUR, and the list could go on and on.
Just like Joseph we MUST RUN LIKE CRAZY, AWAY FROM THESE THINGS, AND DON’T LOOK BACK.
With the same energy and desire we must PURSUE, RUN TOWARDS (like crazy and not looking back).
RIGHTEOUSNESS, we become like the people we live with (evil companions will pollute us) but the more time we spend in intimate communion we Jesus we will become like Him, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We live in a sex crazy world, how can we run from this drive that is in our bodies and not sin.
We must spend quality time in the Word of God EVERY DAY
We must develop an intimate Communion with God in prayer EVERY DAY
We should use our Prayer Language EVERY DAY
We must pursue holy, righteous living and lifestyle
We must learn to be self-disciplined
We must stay focused
We must be PLANTED in a local church, and seek to have a MENTOR.
We must CHOOSE to stay away from every type of pornography and evil companions that could pollute us.
You may have failed in the past, but I am sure it is now under the blood of Jesus and forgiven (and forgotten), you may not have felt it was possible to be victorious over youthful (and not so useful) lusts, I trust this blog has given you the answer that you can live holy and pure in a sin sick world.
God bless you, have a blessed weekend.
