Faithfully Await Your Blessing
The road of life is one that is filled with choices. We have to be careful in choosing though, because there are consequences to the choices we make. Many persons today are living with regrets concerning a hastily made decision, a word spoken on the spur of the moment, and action taken without reflection. Such choices can and do have far reaching and life changing consequences. Today’s text is the reaction of one man to a situation that would change his life forever. In Genesis 39: 9 we find Joseph exclaiming “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"
Joseph had been sold into slavery in Egypt. He was bought by Potiphar, a very wealthy Egyptian who was the captain of PharaohÂ’s palace guards. Although Joseph was in an unfortunate situation, we are told that He was successful because the Lord was with Him. Where do you find yourself today? Are you where you want to be? Has life dealt bitterly with you, causing you end up far away from your goals, far away from your loved ones? Be assured today that regardless of where you find yourself, as long as you remain faithful to the Lord your God, you have the assurance that he will never leave you nor forsake you. He will be with you and you will be blessed where you are. In fact, Joseph was so blessed that he was quickly promoted the position of head servant in PotipharÂ’s house with access to all his master had, except for his masterÂ’s wife.
My friends, often times, it is that which is forbidden us that becomes the object of our downfall. Satan uses many ways to destroy GodÂ’s people and often even our faithfulness and honesty can be used to cause our downfall. PotipharÂ’s wife tried on several occasions to seduce Joseph into a sexual relationship with her, but each time Joseph refused her. Not that she was not beautiful, or desirable, but because he had made a commitment to his two masters. First he was committed to being faithful to his heavenly Master and God who had favored him by rescuing him from the pit his brothers has thrown him in and who had landed him in the hands of a kind earthly master. Secondly, he was committed to being faithful to his earthly master, Potiphar, who had trusted him with everything he had. How could he now betray that trust?
Let me ask you this morning, how do you handle trust? How faithful are you in your relationship with those who depend on you or who you depend on? Can you be trusted to remain faithful to your words, to your pledges, to your promises, to your covenant? Can you be trusted to remain faithful in your relationship with your lover or spouse, regardless of the circumstance you find yourself in? Can you be trusted to remain faithful to your job regardless of the uncertainties and the many changes that may be taking place now? Can you be trusted to remain true to those who depend on your support, regardless of the many attractions or distractions that life places in your way? Can you be trusted to remain true to God, even though things may not be going the way you dreamed it would? Are you a dependable person?
Potiphar’s wife failed to seduce Joseph who resisted this temptation by saying it would be a sin against God. He did not try to rationalize it by saying things like, ‘I could never do this and look you in the eyes again’, or ‘I would be hurting you’ or ‘I could never do this to my boss, it would be a sin against him’. No friends. He made it clear that such actions would be a sin against God, therefore there was no way he could do it. You see when we are under pressure it is easy to rationalize away poor excuses, but what argument can be used to counter one of sinning against God. Sexual sin is not just between two consenting adults, but is an act of disobedience against God. We need to get to that point in our lives where we are unafraid to identify wrong actions and desires for what they are. Sin is sin and no matter how we rename, and rationalize and ‘psychologize’, and philosophize sin, it remains just that – sin – and all sin is committed against God and bears the condemnation of death on the sinner. Rom. 6: 23 tells us For the wages of sin is death.
Joseph avoided Mrs. Potiphar as much as possible, refusing her advances and finally running from her, leaving her with his coat that she had held on to. Friends, there will be times in our lives when simply trying to avoid temptations will not be enough. There will be times when we will need to turn and run away from temptations especially when they are strong, as is always the case of sexual temptations. Many persons regret allowing a situation to go beyond the point of no return and will forever wonder why they did not run when they could have. Do not let that happen to you. The Bible tells us to be so careful, that even a situation that may not be sinful, but which appears to be so, should be avoided. 1 Thessalonians 5: 22 warns us to Avoid every kind of evil.
The sad part of JosephÂ’s story is that in spite of his every effort to do what was right before God, there came a day when Mrs. Potiphar accused him of attempting to rape her. She used the coat he ran away leaving in her hand as evidence against him. Yes friends, there will be times when doing what is right will still not be enough to protect us from the enemy. Does that mean we should not do right then? God forbid. JosephÂ’s story is an inspiration to do right regardless of the circumstances. LetÂ’s look at what happened to him next. He is put in prison. Potiphar could have killed Joseph on the spot for what his wife was accusing him of, but I cannot help but wonder if Joseph was allowed to live because Potiphar knew the woman he had married. The devil may seem to be winning at times but GodÂ’s plan can never be overthrown. Joseph spends two years in prison awaiting trial, a trial that would certainly end in his execution, but he was never called. During that time he is again noticed, this time by the warden who sees the diligence and positive attitude he displays in everything he is asked to do. Joseph is soon promoted to prison administrator. Friends, never be in despair that you are in a place where God cannot reach you or cannot use you. Here is a young man who was falsely accused and jailed, but who never lost focus of who he was, a servant of God, even when his faithfulness to God seemed to have landed him where he was. God used him where he was to make a difference in the lives of those around him and when he was called from prison it was not for trial but to stand before the King of Egypt to interpret his dreams. Indeed Paul says in Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.
Friends, there are times when the Lord allows us to be brought low, only in order to exalt us. Joseph went from prison to being the second most important person in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. God has a way of blessing those who remain faithful to him far beyond what we could ever imagine. We always lose out then when we are unfaithful. I advise you today, remain true and faithful to your God regardless of your circumstance and receive the blessings he has in store for you.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed.
My friends, often times, it is that which is forbidden us that becomes the object of our downfall. Satan uses many ways to destroy GodÂ’s people and often even our faithfulness and honesty can be used to cause our downfall. PotipharÂ’s wife tried on several occasions to seduce Joseph into a sexual relationship with her, but each time Joseph refused her. Not that she was not beautiful, or desirable, but because he had made a commitment to his two masters. First he was committed to being faithful to his heavenly Master and God who had favored him by rescuing him from the pit his brothers has thrown him in and who had landed him in the hands of a kind earthly master. Secondly, he was committed to being faithful to his earthly master, Potiphar, who had trusted him with everything he had. How could he now betray that trust?
Let me ask you this morning, how do you handle trust? How faithful are you in your relationship with those who depend on you or who you depend on? Can you be trusted to remain faithful to your words, to your pledges, to your promises, to your covenant? Can you be trusted to remain faithful in your relationship with your lover or spouse, regardless of the circumstance you find yourself in? Can you be trusted to remain faithful to your job regardless of the uncertainties and the many changes that may be taking place now? Can you be trusted to remain true to those who depend on your support, regardless of the many attractions or distractions that life places in your way? Can you be trusted to remain true to God, even though things may not be going the way you dreamed it would? Are you a dependable person?
Potiphar’s wife failed to seduce Joseph who resisted this temptation by saying it would be a sin against God. He did not try to rationalize it by saying things like, ‘I could never do this and look you in the eyes again’, or ‘I would be hurting you’ or ‘I could never do this to my boss, it would be a sin against him’. No friends. He made it clear that such actions would be a sin against God, therefore there was no way he could do it. You see when we are under pressure it is easy to rationalize away poor excuses, but what argument can be used to counter one of sinning against God. Sexual sin is not just between two consenting adults, but is an act of disobedience against God. We need to get to that point in our lives where we are unafraid to identify wrong actions and desires for what they are. Sin is sin and no matter how we rename, and rationalize and ‘psychologize’, and philosophize sin, it remains just that – sin – and all sin is committed against God and bears the condemnation of death on the sinner. Rom. 6: 23 tells us For the wages of sin is death.
Joseph avoided Mrs. Potiphar as much as possible, refusing her advances and finally running from her, leaving her with his coat that she had held on to. Friends, there will be times in our lives when simply trying to avoid temptations will not be enough. There will be times when we will need to turn and run away from temptations especially when they are strong, as is always the case of sexual temptations. Many persons regret allowing a situation to go beyond the point of no return and will forever wonder why they did not run when they could have. Do not let that happen to you. The Bible tells us to be so careful, that even a situation that may not be sinful, but which appears to be so, should be avoided. 1 Thessalonians 5: 22 warns us to Avoid every kind of evil.
The sad part of JosephÂ’s story is that in spite of his every effort to do what was right before God, there came a day when Mrs. Potiphar accused him of attempting to rape her. She used the coat he ran away leaving in her hand as evidence against him. Yes friends, there will be times when doing what is right will still not be enough to protect us from the enemy. Does that mean we should not do right then? God forbid. JosephÂ’s story is an inspiration to do right regardless of the circumstances. LetÂ’s look at what happened to him next. He is put in prison. Potiphar could have killed Joseph on the spot for what his wife was accusing him of, but I cannot help but wonder if Joseph was allowed to live because Potiphar knew the woman he had married. The devil may seem to be winning at times but GodÂ’s plan can never be overthrown. Joseph spends two years in prison awaiting trial, a trial that would certainly end in his execution, but he was never called. During that time he is again noticed, this time by the warden who sees the diligence and positive attitude he displays in everything he is asked to do. Joseph is soon promoted to prison administrator. Friends, never be in despair that you are in a place where God cannot reach you or cannot use you. Here is a young man who was falsely accused and jailed, but who never lost focus of who he was, a servant of God, even when his faithfulness to God seemed to have landed him where he was. God used him where he was to make a difference in the lives of those around him and when he was called from prison it was not for trial but to stand before the King of Egypt to interpret his dreams. Indeed Paul says in Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.
Friends, there are times when the Lord allows us to be brought low, only in order to exalt us. Joseph went from prison to being the second most important person in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. God has a way of blessing those who remain faithful to him far beyond what we could ever imagine. We always lose out then when we are unfaithful. I advise you today, remain true and faithful to your God regardless of your circumstance and receive the blessings he has in store for you.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed.
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