"I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Day 205 - (Today’s Bible readings: 2 Kings 1, Psalm 23; Matthew 12:38-50)
HOW CAN I DO THIS GREAT WICKEDNESS?
“How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9 ESV)
How do you handle temptation? Is your answer in line with Joseph or with Alfred P. Doolittle? Doolittle is a character who sings the following in the musical My Fair Lady:
Oh, you can walk the straight and narrow;
But with a little bit of luck You'll run amuck!
The gentle sex was made for man to marry,
To share his nest and see his food is cooked.
The gentle sex was made for man to marry-but
With a little bit of luck, With a little bit of luck,
You can have it all and not get hooked.
With a little bit...with a little bit...
With a little bit of luck you won't get hooked.
Potiphar’s wife was looking for a little bit of luck with Joseph. What she found was a faithful follower of almighty God whose response to her advances provides us words we would do well to use whenever temptation comes our way.
“How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”
No matter what the temptation may be, Joseph’s words work. They certainly worked for Joseph. Even though he was unjustly sent to prison, “the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Genesis 39:21 ESV)
Here is a far better musical example to follow:
Let us ever walk with Jesus,
Follow His example pure,
Flee the world, which would deceive us
And to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading,
Body here, yet soul above,
Full of faith and hope and love,
Let us do the Father's bidding.
Faithful Lord, abide with me;
Savior, lead, I follow Thee.
(Lutheran Service Book, CPH, 2006)
Heavenly Father, please strengthen me by means of Your Word and Sacraments to flee from temptation as Joseph did. Yes, protect me from the wicked, sinners and scoffers. When I do sin, please have mercy on me and forgive me for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion rail this morning.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), undergirds this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
Then scroll down to 2022 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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