…Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, ⁷ and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ ⁸ But he refused. ‘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?’ ¹⁰ And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even to be with her. Gen 39:6b-10

We spoke yesterday about a scenario where things haven’t gone according to plan and you find yourself in a place that you never intended to be. If you thought that was bad, there is worse. When you get to that place (that you never planned to be at), temptation will be waiting for you. Not only was Joseph in a foreign land…as a slave…but the devil was also waiting to tempt him. Remember he’s not on your side and he never feels as sorry for you as you do for yourself. He will kick you when you are down. While you are trying to figure out how you got there, Mrs Potiphar will be right there fluttering her eye lids and gently placing her hand on yours. I don’t know who or what your Mrs Potiphar is – sex, pornography, deceit, stealing, violence – whatever it is, don’t be caught with your guard down.

God teaches us in 1 Cor 10:13 that No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. It’s a true story. You can count on this, the tests are coming. Temptation is coming. You know where you are most susceptible. Like Joseph, when those tests come, be found sober-minded and clear on the fact that to sin is to do so against God and that it is not an option. When we are full of the word and full of the Spirit, we have everything we need to resist temptation and to maintain upright lives as we live for God. Remember, you are more than a conqueror!

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