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 …: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Genesis 39:7-9.
Joseph, in the providence of God, was deprived of his happy home and the teachings and example of his God-fearing father, and his lot was cast in a family of dark heathen. There his virtue was severely tested. It is always a critical period in a young man’s life when he is separated from home influences and wise counsels and enters upon new scenes and trying tests….
God was with Joseph in his new home. He was in the path of duty, suffering wrong but not doing wrong. He therefore had the love and protection of God, for he carried his religious principles into everything he undertook. What a difference there was in Joseph’s case and the case of young people who apparently force their way into the very field of the enemy, exposing themselves to the fierce assaults of Satan. Joseph suffered for righteousness’ sake, while the trials of others are of their own procuring. Joseph did not conceal his religion or manly piety to avoid persecution.
The Lord prospered Joseph, but in the midst of his prosperity came the darkest adversity. The wife of his master was a licentious woman, one who urged his steps to take hold on hell. Would Joseph yield his moral gold of character to the seductions of a corrupt woman? Would he remember that the eye of God was upon him?
Few temptations are more dangerous or more fatal to young men than the temptation of sensuality, and none, if yielded to, will prove so decidedly ruinous to soul and body for time and eternity. The welfare of his entire future was suspended upon the decision of a moment. Joseph calmly cast his eyes to heaven for help, slipped off his loose outer garment, leaving it in the hand of his tempter, and while his eye was lighted with determined resolve in the place of unholy passion, he exclaimed, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” …
True religion extends to all the thoughts of the mind, penetrating to all the secret thoughts of the heart, to all the motives of action, to the object and direction of the affections, to the whole framework of our lives. “Thou God seest me” will be the watchword, the guard of the life….
But Joseph was a Christian…. He entered into the troubles of his fellow prisoners. He was cheerful, for he was a Christian gentleman. God was preparing him under this discipline for a situation of great responsibility, honor, and usefulness, and he was willing to learn … the lessons the Lord would teach him.—Letter 3, 1879 (Manuscript Releases 4:220-223).
Christ Triumphant p. 96
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for me as I have an important meeting this evening. JT
—–Please pray for Doug’s brother to know the Lord. He has been diagnosed with cancer and needs our prayers. Also pray for Joann who needs prayers as well. M
—–Please pray that the demons will leave our family. B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, I spent nearly every evening with my grandfather, Edwin Harmon. He told me the most wonderful stories of when he was a boy. I’d ask for them over and over. One time, I asked him why he had a little bluish mark on his lip. Thus began a story I had not heard before.
When he was still in grade school, he and his little brother, Harold, were playing with a group of boys from the neighborhood one day. Having free time was a rare thing back in the late 1800’s, so the boys wanted some exciting adventure. They decided to go to the town’s gravel pit and play on the piles of gravel. They knew that this was strictly forbidden because of the danger of being buried alive, and that the owner of the gravel pit had posted a guard at the entrance to keep everyone out.
That is what made it all the more appealing to these boys, who were wanting fun and excitement. Somehow they sneaked in and started climbing on the mounds. At first they were quiet, but as their little “king of the mountain” game progressed, all thoughts of the guard vanished and they began to laugh and shout. Before long, the guard heard them and grabbed his gun. Firing toward the boys, but not meaning to hit any of them, he shouted for the boys to get out.
It did not take a second shot for those boys to be convinced that they should leave. Away they ran like scared rabbits! My grandfather had felt a little sting on his lip when the man shot at them, but it was only after he was far away from the pit, that he tasted the salty taste of blood. The bullet had grazed his lip. Ever after, he would have a little blue mark where some of the gunpowder “tattooed” him.
How often it is the same in our life. We think that we can “get by” with some forbidden pleasure, but the results forever change our life. Sin scars. Sin leaves its mark. The Great Redeemer has given many such examples in His Holy Word. One such example is Lot. He had lived with his uncle Abraham until he was so prosperous that the two men had to dwell a little distance from each other. Abraham, although in a position to choose the best for himself, let Lot choose the area where he wished to dwell. “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.” Gen 13:10,11 That choice resulted in a loss of all that was dear to him. He lost his wife, his family, his possessions, everything.
Another example is King David. His one moment of indiscretion, changed his life forever. From that moment, his kingdom began to decline. The guilt that he felt kept him from rebuking his children as he should and this changed the way they viewed sin. The course of their lives spiraled downward to the point that it cost some of them their lives. The baby which was born out of his affair with Bathsheba died shortly after birth. His firstborn went beyond his father’s lust and it cost him his life. His well-beloved son coveted the throne and began plotting against him. (2 Sam 13-19)
How easy It is to make a wrong choice. One unguarded moment can change the whole course of our lives. One wrong decision can lead us down the wrong path. How much we need God’s wisdom and care. Only then can we keep from ruining our lives. We do not possess this wisdom naturally. It is a gift from our Great Creator.
James tells us” If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5 Our Loving Guide has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 What a wonderful God we serve! He promises to guide us and to instruct us in every aspect of our life. Our part is to cooperate with him. We must not stubbornly refuse His leading. If we turn from His instruction, we will suffer a great loss, a loss that He does not want us to experience. If we refuse to listen to His voice, our life will take a downward course.
May we close our ears from the first suggestion of the enemy. May we turn from the momentary pleasures this world has to offer. May we walk in the path that leads to everlasting joy is my prayer.
Rose
Inner Character Revealed in Actions