Yesterday, I shared about the first two verses of Hebrews 12"... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
I was meditating and praying about it today since I couldn't seem to shake the feeling that He had more to share on the subject. During that process He showed me a picture of someone who totally and perfectly exemplifies laying aside the sin that tries to ensnare for 'race set before Him' Take a look ....
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.
The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.
So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put in his hand.
So it was, from the time that he made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.
So he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he ate. And Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
Now it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me."
But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand."
There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How than can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside,
That she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside,
that she called to the men of he house and spoke to them saying, "See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.
"And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside."
So she kept his garment with her until his master came home.
Then sho spoke to him with words like these, saying, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside."
So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, "Your servant did to me after this manner."
Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king 's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.
The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's hand, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. Genesis 39:1-23
Joseph made a choice to not be ensnared and do what was right. And even though in the eyes of the world it looked like it didn't work out so good, what with prison and all, he was still set on the path with the author and finisher of his faith. The thing about running this race that is set before us is this ... He is the author and finisher of it and we are not running it alone. HE GOES WITH US ... and His mercy and His favor will always prosper our way as we make the choice to lay aside anything that would hinder us from running our race with and for Him.
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