There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.
Our Theme for the day: Stand Part. 1
Geneses 39 tells of the story of Joseph, who was falsely accused of a crime he did not commit, and then thrust into prison. Potiphar wife's charge against Joseph was that this young Hebrew tried to rape me. At the first Joseph was treated with great severity by his jailers. How did Joseph show his forth his integrity? This is the same question that is asked of you, when you are put to a test and still keep the faith, how do you keep your integrity? The record of Joseph reveals that he had a firmness of character, uprightness, and wisdom? Notice Joseph first step toward integrity and a perfect character.
1. Firmness. Why is it so important that the servant of God has firmness? Because when you are faced with a heard decision like Joseph of being ask to commit sin and live, or refuse and stand on the promises of God even in the face of death. This is when you have to live from the firmness of your belief or with a made up mind. Firmness of mind builds character which produces determination that leads to action.
2. The second step toward integrity and a perfect character is uprightness. What is uprightness that we need it like Joseph? Can we live without it in our day? I’m sorry but we all need the quality of uprightness, even so much more in these last days. Uprightness is the quality or state of being morally sound. The quality of uprightness is living, or being in accord with standards of right or good conduct, and virtuous code. Codes of morality have evolved in keeping with larger cultural, historical, and economic currents. The age-old controversies regarding homosexuality, pornography, drinking, gambling, and other ‘immoral’ practices remain current today, but does it make it right? It is clear to all living on earth, that it is not man through their legislation that makes something moral, or immoral, but God. And His standard rules over all. Like Joseph, you may be called upon to take a stand, even in the face of a heard decision. Will you have uprightness in your character?
3. The third and final step toward integrity and a perfect character is wisdom.
James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” What is so important about this last quality, that the servant of God needs it in these last days like Joseph did in his? Wisdom is the ability to discern or judge what is true, and right. Like the old sayings, common sense; and good judgment: “It is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things” by (Henry David Thoreau).
Today you will be called upon to make a decision, but let it not be a desperate decision. No matter what you faced today remember, stand.
Our Prayer for today:
Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.