"And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her."
Genesis 39:7-10
This story seems so foreign to our society. Can you imagine seeing a movie or watching a television episode where something like this happens, and the person doesn't eventually give in? Our culture seems so desensitized to fornication and adultery that we think that those are part of the normal way that the world should work. In fact, Joseph, in trying to do the right thing, would probably be mocked in our society.
Today, let's remember that what we learn in the world is not what God teaches. Let's have a higher standard, and stand up for what what God asks of us and we know to be right. What Joseph did wasn't easy, dealing with that temptation every day, but he did the right thing and he distanced himself and protected himself all he could. He made the right choices, despite being sold into slavery and separated from his former life. No matter our circumstances, we can make the right choices too. God gives us the power to obey his commandments. Let's work on doing that, on serving God, and staying far away from temptation. Too often we try to see how close we can get without being burned, and then decide that a little burning isn't all that bad. Instead, let's avoid the flames altogether. Let's do things God's way, and trust him that our lives will be so much better his way than if we just give in whenever things get difficult.
But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her."
Genesis 39:7-10
This story seems so foreign to our society. Can you imagine seeing a movie or watching a television episode where something like this happens, and the person doesn't eventually give in? Our culture seems so desensitized to fornication and adultery that we think that those are part of the normal way that the world should work. In fact, Joseph, in trying to do the right thing, would probably be mocked in our society.
Today, let's remember that what we learn in the world is not what God teaches. Let's have a higher standard, and stand up for what what God asks of us and we know to be right. What Joseph did wasn't easy, dealing with that temptation every day, but he did the right thing and he distanced himself and protected himself all he could. He made the right choices, despite being sold into slavery and separated from his former life. No matter our circumstances, we can make the right choices too. God gives us the power to obey his commandments. Let's work on doing that, on serving God, and staying far away from temptation. Too often we try to see how close we can get without being burned, and then decide that a little burning isn't all that bad. Instead, let's avoid the flames altogether. Let's do things God's way, and trust him that our lives will be so much better his way than if we just give in whenever things get difficult.
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