Genesis 39:12
He left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Most of you will recognize this as the account of Joseph escaping the temptation presenred by Potiphar’s wife. That story teaches us a great lesson. Remember the old saying, “Play with fire and you’ll get burned”? Well, it’s true, and if you flirt with sin you will become a victim. Charles Spurgeon said it much better than I can. Here’s what he wrote:

In contending with certain sins there remains no mode of victory but by flight. The ancient naturalists wrote much of basilisks ( a legendary reptile), whose eyes fascinated their victims and rendered them easy victims; so the mere gaze of wickedness puts us in solemn danger. He who would be safe from acts of evil must haste away from occasions of it. A covenant must be made with our eyes not even to look upon the cause of temptation, for such sins only need a spark to begin with and a blaze follows in an instant. Who would wantonly enter the leper’s prison and sleep amid its horrible corruption? He only who desires to be leprous himself would thus court contagion. If the mariner knew how to avoid a storm, he would do anything rather than run the risk of weathering it. Cautious pilots have no desire to try how near the quicksand they can sail, or how often they may touch a rock without springing a leak; their aim is to keep as nearly as possible in the midst of a safe channel. This day I may be exposed to great peril, let me have the serpent’s wisdom to keep out of it and avoid it. The wings of a dove may be of more use to me to-day than the jaws of a lion. It is true I may be an apparent loser by declining evil company, but I had better leave my cloak than lose my character; it is not needful that I should be rich, but it is imperative upon me to be pure. No ties of friendship, no chains of beauty, no flashings of talent, no shafts of ridicule must turn me from the wise resolve to flee from sin. The devil I am to resist and he will flee from me, but the lusts of the flesh, I must flee, or they will surely overcome me. O God of holiness preserve thy Josephs, that Madam Bubble bewitch them not with her vile suggestions. May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil, never overcome us!

Behold he that keepeth Israel shall, neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper; the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve the going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.–Psalm 121:4-8   Earlier I spoke about the source of our strength and the strength of our source, today I want you to think about the surety of our security. “Behold”–this is a call for attention, a call for us to see that, just as God kept Israel (both the man and the nation), He is able to keep us safe. He is our “keeper”. He is able to keep us from the devices of the devil, the dominion of sin, the danger of error, etc. Circumstances do not matter to God. Whether it be day or night He is the same, and He is with us and for us. God has promised to preserve those who trust Him. He gives us both provision and protection.   Those who trust God are protected “from all evil”, at all times and in all places. Nothing is excluded. He keeps us everyday and in every way, “even for evermore”. As God’s children we have blessed assurance that He will protect and provide regardless of our situation. He has given us “exceeding great and precious promises”(2 Peter 1:4), and He cannot lie(Titus 1:2)—–claim them today!

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.–Luke 9:23-24   As you well know, most people are always looking for the easy way out. They want the crown without the cross, the blessing without the burden. But, when it comes to discipleship there is no easy way out, it is costly! The demands of dicipleship cost the same today as it did when Jesus walked the earth—everything. But it is worth it. J.R. Miller wrote: We are strongly tempted, in these luxurious days-to seek out the easy ways in life. Naturally we are not fond of bearing heavy burdens, of performing hard tasks, of making self-denials. We prefer to be indolent. Not many people die of overwork; more die of laziness. Souls are withered, too, by self-indulgence. It is a false idea that God has sown his blessings thickest. amid the flowers of earth’s gardens; nay, they lie thickest on the bare fields of hardship and toil. In shrinking from self-denials called for in the path of duty-we are missing the best things God has to give us.

My help cometh from the LORD which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.–Psalm 121:2-3   While we need to think about the source of our strength, we also need to think about the strength of our source. God has the power to create and control all of creation! Wow! Who can comprehend that. Being able to that, your problem is no problem to God.   The phrase,”He will not suffer thy foot to be moved” isn’t as meaningful to us as it was to folks in those days. We don’t travel much by foot and when we do it is usually on smooth surfaces rather than rugged terrain. In those days and in those places travellers faced many difficult and dangerous situatons, where one slip could result in death.   But, although our circustances are different, we need the same help they needed. As we walk the pathway of life we are in constant danger and continual need of help. We are always liable to fall at any moment unless the Lord helps us. It is only through His power that we can stand fast.   Dear friend, be encouraged today. Walk with the Lord and He will sustain you in every possible situation. He never slumbers or sleeps. He is always alert, aware of your need, and able to help. If He can create and control the sun. moon, and stars He can take care of you. If He cares for the sparrow that falls, He cares much more for His children. The strength of our source assures us that no problem is too big for God.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD which made heaven and earth.” –Psalm 121:1-2   I have read these words numerous times while standing at the grave side trying to comfort troubled families. The truth here is appropriate at the grave side or any place else, or in any situation. We are never without need of help.   Jerusalem was unlike the other national capitals in that day. It was not located on a large river like Babylon. It didn’t have a harbor like Tyre and Sidon. It wasn’t even on the main highway. What Jerusalem had was hills. It stood on a rocky plateau 2,550 feet above the Mediterranean Sea and 3,800 feet above the Dead Sea. To the Jews the elevation of Jerusalem was a picture of safety, not only because of it’s height, but also because of it’s relation to Jehovah. Weary pilgrims traveling there to worship were greatly encouraged when the hills of their homeland came into view.   Although we don’t put our trust in a city or a nation, we too need to lift up our eyes. Satan would have us to look back at our failures and be discouraged, or look around and be distracted, or to look down in despair because of our difficulties, but we need to look up. Our help “cometh from the LORD”. Our Helper is the One who made the hills. His power is unequaled and unlimited. He who has the power to create and control everything is our Helper, the source of our strength. Whatever situation you are forced to face today God is sufficent to able to give you the victory.