When Temptation Reaches Out to Grab You, Don't Put Your Mind in Neutral Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Temptation Reaches Out------------- Date: 08/01/1998 Keywords: "temptation" "reaches out" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you STAND STRONG in the face of sexual temptation. Today’s 3-Minute Bible Study takes us to the Old Testament. The book of Genesis is a book of beginnings. It describes the beginning of the UNIVERSE, the beginning of MARRIAGE, the beginning of SIN, the beginning of SOCIETY, the beginning of the PEOPLE OF GOD. In Genesis 39 we have the beginning of something else. There, for the first time in Scripture, we find a man facing - and successfully resisting - sexual temptation. Genesis 39 tells the story of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and the wife of Potiphar, an Egyptian official. Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers and had become a trusted servant in Potipher’s house. Everything went fine until Potipher's wife set her sights on Joseph. Take a moment to read Genesis 39:1-9* and then answer a couple of questions at the end 1 - Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. 2 - And the LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3 - Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 - So Joseph found favor in his sight, and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge. 5 - And it came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD'S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. 6 - So he left everything he owned in Joseph's charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 - And it came about after these events that his master's wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8 - But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. 9 - "There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil, and sin against God?" How’s that for sexual temptation reaching out to grab you? List Joseph’s options when she gave him this invitation. 1.   2.   3.   Joseph refused her advances. Notice how he was able to resist the temptation to commit sexual sin. He THOUGHT! He REMAINED CONSCIOUS of Potipher’s trust in him and was mindful that committing adultery with his wife would poison that trust. He REMAINED CONSCIOUS of the fact that Potipher’s wife's suggestion was evil. He called it what it was. He REMAINED CONSCIOUS that he lived his life in the sight of God. Questions to ask ourselves: When we are tempted to view images on the Web that play to our sexual appetites, it is important that we THINK first. Ask yourself: How might viewing sexually explicit images affect your view of women, generally? Might it have a damaging effect on your treatment of your wife? your daughter? your girlfriend? How would you classify viewing explicitly sexual images on the Web? Is such an activity wholesome? Does it help you in your walk with Christ? Using Joseph’s terminology, is it evil? Recognizing something for what it really is helps us deal with it wisely and righteously. How would you behave in front of the computer if you were consciously aware of God’s presence in your life at every moment? THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: In standing firm against pornography, the first step is to THINK. Think before you act. Don’t just "do something." Stand there, and consider the effects of your actions before you click on. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1998 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."