“And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out” (Genesis 39:12).
TEXT — Genesis 39:1-12
Message
It has been said that what happens to you does not make you who you are but reveals who you are. A person’s real character shines forth in what the person does when confronted with the relentless come-hither signals of an agent or practitioner of seduction.
In Potiphar’s house, Joseph was at the cusp of his destiny. Then came along Mrs. Potiphar with the offer of illicit pleasure; he would be her toy boy with all the potential “benefits” it promised. The temptress tried flirting and, when that failed, resorted to aggressive pursuit. Joseph’s flat refusal of the persistent solicitations by his master’s wife was a testament to his righteousness. But English poet and playwright William Congreve’s observation is apt, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”; Joseph would pay very dearly for daring to stand for holiness. But God was with him through it all.
Maintaining moral purity today may be a tedious swim against the tide, but it endears one. The ‘Joseph Test’ confronts the modern-day believer in the form of barefaced nudity on the streets, lust and immorality promoted and popularised in society and undisguised erotica pornography in the social media. Heaven’s pilgrims need a healthy dose of divine grace and personal discipline to maintain holiness of heart and life.
What seemed like a setback for Joseph was the last hurdle he had to jump before entering the glorious destiny prepared for him. God’s presence with him charted his course from prison to Pharaoh’s palace. Personal purity has its rewards. If you, like Joseph, decide for moral pureness, you can expect God’s companionship through the vicissitudes of life and assurance of victory at last.
Thought for the day
Your stand for holiness is the sure step to greatness.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
