April 17th & 21st
The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him ni charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome.
—Genesis 39:2-6
Where there is temptation, there is a choice.
Do what you must do to have the Lord with you!
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
—Psalm 46:1 NIV
”And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.“
—Romans 8:28 NLT
The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him.
—2 Chronicles 16:9 CEV
“With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 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?”
—Genesis 39:8-9
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
—Matthew 14:23 ESV
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.
—Mark 1:35
In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.
—Luke 6:12
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
—1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB
”God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.“
—James 1:12-15 NLT
You see God had more for Joseph and he used the situations that Joseph found himself in to build the character needed to live right!
Do what you must do to live right
“So Potipher left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joesph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, Come to bed with me!
—Genesis 39:6-7 ESV
For every temptation there is an action
For every temptation there is an escape!
The Lord, The Lord the Compassionate and Gracious God, Slow to Anger, Abounding in Love and Faithfulness.”
—Exodus 34:6
Whenever the temptation/sin shows up, God already has an exit plan and a posse.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
—Hebrews 12:1
One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. VS13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” VS19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. VS20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.”
—Genesis 39:11-20
Where there is temptation there is a choice.
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Next Steps:
1. Today, I invite Jesus in my life for the first time.
2. This week I will ask God for the strength to say no to a temptation I have previously given into.
3. This week I will read Exodus 34:6 and use “The Character of God” in my daily life. (Compassion, Gracious, Slow to Anger, Abounding in Love and Faithfulness.)
4. This week I will read Genesis 44-47:12. (App->Bible->Plan)