February 8

February 8.

Joseph & Potiphar's Wife -- Joseph avoiding & fleeing from sexual temptation.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: Genesis 39

Reading 2: Proverbs 7

Reading 3: 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Has anything ever happened to you that was not fair? Today's reading is for you! (and I realize that means all of us).Joseph is sold into slavery but works diligently and sees God's blessing on himself and on those he serves. God will bless those around us and those in authority over us, for our sake, if we will commit ourselves to work wholeheartedly for God even in ungodly situations. This attitude has become rare in today's society and we would do well to embrace it.

Then, as favor rises on Joseph, he is sexually abused by his master's wife but flees, knowing this is wrong.

Incidentally, sexual sin is the most powerful trap for us, because sex is a gift from God to cement the marriage of a man and woman and lead to the gift of children in a healthy family to fulfill the original command to fill the earth and have dominion. But sin twists this; thus this area of life is full of satan's agenda - to cheapen sex, redefine marriage, and cause as much confusion as possible in a bid to thwart God's plan. Proverbs 7 and 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 have much to teach us in these matters.

Having fled the sexual temptation, Joseph is unjustly accused and imprisoned, adding multiple injustices to his slavery. He has no rights and no ability to defend himself. It all seems so unfair!

Then we are told: "But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love." In the midst of slavery, Joseph does his best work. Then in the midst of fleeing from temptation, he is falsely accused. Even while being punished for the opposite of what he did, Joseph still finds God is at work and continues to work diligently, accepting unjust imprisonment, trusting God's plan, and doing his best in the meantime, even in the midst of a corrupt and unjust system.

How does that compare with your "It's not fair" story?

I'm guessing that, like mine, yours is a lot less bad than Joseph's?

Well God has a lesson for all of us today - He is GOD! And that means there is a duty on us to live for Him, working diligently with the skills He has given us, for HIS sake, regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Joseph is a type (a historical forerunner) of Jesus, who willingly left His family home in heaven to come and live in an ungodly place and be unjustly imprisoned (in a tomb) although he had done nothing wrong. We know how that story turned out - Jesus wins - and so will you if you do your best in the midst of your "it's not fair" experience, knowing that God is with you. As verse 30 tells us: "The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed."

May God do the same for you.

Have a great day!

Mark.