Running with Joseph
In 1545, William Turner wrote a version of the expression, “Birds of a feather flock together” in the Rescuing of Romish Fox: “Byrdes of on kynde and color flok and flye allwayes together.” This old saying is still just as true today.American laws will prosecute people for being an accessory to a crime. It is a way of holding everyone accountable for the laws of the land; even those who stand idly by and let their friends, family, spouse, peers, and neighbors do what is wrong in the sight of mans laws.
This is guilt by association as an accessory by condoning those negligent actions; Compromising that which they know to be wrong.
I propose to you; Think of how much more God will hold you and I accountable for compromise. Compromise is the vehicle by which we have joined in on the sin by acceptance of the sins around us. We should not hesitate to do the right thing.
By not taking ‘some’ kind of action to right the wrong and stop the sin “it is compromise.” No matter how hard you try side step the truth or just ignore the sin. I’m not saying to take the law into your own hands. I am saying; that at the very least to bring the sin to light and tell someone who can.
Satan has perverted the truth and convinced mankind to ignore things that aren’t your problem. Just be quite and say nothing. Don’t make waves. Leave it alone, it will go away. Don’t call the law and be labeled a snitch. They had it coming. Aw, it ain’t hurting you, so don’t stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong. And so forth; and so on….
DON’T “HESITATE”!!! THIS IS COMPROMISE!!! THIS IS SIN!!!
THIS IS WRONG!!! DO SOMETHING!!!
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.(James 4:17)
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
The lord sent angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for all of the wickedness and depravities committed which were all forms of compromising the statues and laws of God. (Genesis 19:1) Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family lived in Sodom. The angels were there to warn and rescue them from the inescapable destruction. The only problem is that Lot, his wife and daughters hesitated.
(Genesis 19:16) And while he lingered, the men [angels] took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.
The Hebrew word for lingered is מָהַהּ transliterated (Strong’s #4102) mâhahh meaning to question or hesitate, that is, (by implication) to be reluctant: – delay, linger, stay selves, tarry.
Lot’s wife hesitated again and compromised the warning from the angels and it cost her, her life. (Genesis 19:17) So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” (Genesis 19:26) But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Lot’s wife was looking back to what she knew was wrong. Whether it was the city, her friends, possessions, or longing for her way of life. They were all wickedness in the sight of God and were destroyed.
I see this all the time. Believers continually turn a blind eye to the blatantly obvious sins that surround them. Sometimes they go beyond condoning the sin through compromise. Some even join in!
If you drink of the same cup or eat from the same table of the wicked you are condoning and compromising with sin. In other words you can not run the bars, fornicate, get high, and break bread at a sinfully shady neighbor’s BBQ; For this is fellowship with Satan.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.
Running with Joseph
Believers need to be like Joseph. Lot may have hesitated but Joseph ran. When Joseph was approached by his slave master’s (Potiphar) wife, he not only stood up for what was right, he ran. Joseph left his garment (probably cloak) behind. (Genesis 39:12) that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.Sadly in today’s world, most people would jump at the chance to do some “hooking up.” Especially a proposition with someone of such influence; but Joseph did not compromise what he “knew” was right, and he ran from the cup of evil. He did not dine at the table of adultery.
True Christians should be
“Running with Joseph,”
Not: Running with the Devil.
Stand up!
There is a saying – “If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.” So called “Christians” are falling for everything! Stand up and do what is right in the eyes of God and you “will” be blessed!
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Stand up and be a witness for Jesus…(Acts 26:16) But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. (Matthew 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Stand up for righteous principles…(Philippians 1:27) Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
Stand up in your faith….(1 Corinthians 16:13) Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Stand up against Satan….(Ephesians 6:11-13) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand up before Jesus…(Luke 21:36) Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Don’t Tread on Me.
Believers are know as the salt of the earth and expected to do the right thing. However; if a “Christian” fails to stand up for righteousness he will be “walked on” by Satan and everyone else. (Matthew 5:13) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Believers
must not be conformed to the world. We must not condone and compromise
with sin. We must stand up and be counted as witnesses to all that is
Good and God.
I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which
is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
~
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Stand! Take Jesus’ Hand!
~
And
if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this
day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that
were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in
whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Who do you serve?
