FLEE THE EVIL DESIRES OF YOUTH: DARE TO RUN TO JESUS

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

- 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

Photo credit: Scripture made via Expressgram

In today's world, the battle for purity is more intense than ever. With technology's advances, we must constantly be on our guard. We must put on the full armor of God to help us stand against the devil's evil schemes (Eph. 6:10-18).

In Genesis 39, we see Joseph put in charge of the home of an Egyptian officer, Potiphar, after being sold into slavery by his brothers. Even as a slave, God grants Joseph success in everything he does. Then comes the temptation.

Potiphar's wife tries to seduce Joseph. He remains faithful to God by refusing her. Instead, he asks, "How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God (v. 9, NLT)." Nonetheless, Potiphar's wife was relentless. She pressured him day after day. Still, Joseph stood his ground and denied her.

Like Joseph, we are faced with temptations to compromise daily, not just physically but with our minds and our hearts. Purity is about more than simply saving yourself for marriage (which is very important and if you have made mistakes, you can repent & recommit to waiting today. God will cleanse you & make you whiter than snow. See Isaiah  1:18, Psalm 51:7). It's also about keeping our minds pure and guarding our hearts. We need to avoid polluting our minds and hearts with music, television, and books that send out the message that drinking, drugs, premartial sex, and homosexuality are ok when we know this is contrary to God's Word. 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

A major key to keeping our thoughts pure is not putting garbage in our minds with the things we read, watch, and listen to. Keep your mind on God's Word. When your thoughts go in the wrong direction, submit them to Christ (See 2 Cor. 10:5). Feed yourself spiritually daily by making time with God a priority.

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

- 2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)

Flee sexual temptation. Flee from porn. Flee from impure thoughts. Flee from things that tell you to compromise. Flee the evil desires of youth. Dare to run to Jesus.

Scripture Reading: 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 

- Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 

- Genesis 39:1-10 (NIV)

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.

- Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

- Psalm 51:7 (NASB)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

- Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

In the Love of Christ,

Rachel Marie