This week’s Pastor to Person is written by Pastor Caleb Beller
[Gen 39:9 NIV] 9 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?”
This story is filled many great lessons about dealing with temptation. Let’s look at a few lessons that we can apply to our own temptation battle.
Pain is not an excuse for sin (9). Joseph finds himself in an already frustrating situation. Betrayed by his brothers & enslaved in a pagan land Joseph never let his circumstances determine his ethics. Honoring God was the same in the dark as it was in the light.
Joseph kept saying no (10). The temptations continued even after Joseph said no. Joseph continued to say no daily. The war of temptation is fought in daily battles. Put on the armor of God daily.
Sometimes you have to run (13). On this day “no” wasn’t enough. Joseph had to physically run away from the temptation. 1 Cor 6:18 Paul tells the Corinthians to, “flee sexual immorality.” Sometimes your best defense is to get out of there!
When victory looks like defeat (20). Josephs “reward” for doing the right thing looked like his circumstances got worse. Sometimes honoring God comes at a cost. Jesus said, “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
The real reward (21-23). Throughout the story we see “The LORD was with” Joseph. Sin’s number one goal is to separate you from God. The lie of sin is always life will be better if…. Josephs example helps teach us that saying no to sin begins with saying yes to God.
May we like Joseph find victory in our daily sin struggle as we walk in the presence and promises of God (Ps 119:11).
-Pastor Caleb