Liminal Lent with Joseph – Genesis 39:1-12 – Rachel Taylor

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“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6: 18-20)

Both Joseph and Jesus went through times of considerable trials and temptations. Both emerged victorious and without sin, as God was with them.

Joseph fled from sexual temptation at the hands of Potiphar’s wife by literally running out of the house, leaving his cloak in her hand.

All Christians who follow in the footsteps of Christ will come up against times of testing and temptation. It is not a bad thing for us, producing perseverance and refining our faith (James 1: 2-4)

However, we need to use God-given strategies through the Holy Spirit to withstand temptation.

Joseph and Jesus modelled a tenacious focus, love and obedience for God. Joseph cried out “how then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Our “yes” to the surpassing worth of Christ is vastly superior to that to which we say “no”.

Jesus demonstrated the importance of fasting to battle temptation. We need the life given by God and His word more than physical nourishment.

Finally, we must keep accountability with Christian brothers and sisters, knowing we all face these battles and not allowing Satan to shame us into silence and isolation.