SATURDAY August 26, 2017
Taking Firm Action Against Sin
So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. - >Nehemiah 13:19-20
Nehemiah took immediate action to stop the Sabbath from being profaned. He commanded the gates to be shut and stopped the pagans from coming in to sell their wares. The servants could not open the gates until the Sabbath was over, from six o’clock Friday evening, until six o’clock the next day. Nehemiah let them know that they were no longer welcome to sell anything on the Sabbath. Pretty soon, the pagan merchants and sellers would get the message.
Joseph had to take a firm stand against sin when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. He continuously refused her attempts. In Genesis 39:9, Joseph told this brazen woman.
“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 then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Day after day, Potiphar’s wife continued in her attempts to seduce Joseph. Then one day, she grabbed hold of Joseph’s garment and asked him to lie with her.What action did Joseph decide to take? He ran! Genesis 39:12 gives to us the details: But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
Do you cave in to temptation or do you resist temptation? You must take a firm action against sin.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
~James 4:7~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
