DEVOTION ~ SWEET LIES

Theme: Sweet Lies

Text: Genesis 39:11-18

¹¹ 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, 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. ¹³ And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, ¹⁴ that she called to the men of her 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. ¹⁵ 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.” ¹⁶ So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. ¹⁷ Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; ¹⁸ so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

We're continuing our lessons with Joseph. Yesterday's devotion revealed to us the voice of deceit must be resisted with the truth of God’s Word concerning our lives. Today, we will look at the character of both Joseph and his master's wife on the theme sweet lies. Lies as we all know are unpleasant, there are no element of truth in them. Why then, are we having the theme as sweet lies? Relax and you'll soon find out.

Potiphar's wife believed her continuous persistence of asking Joseph to lie with her will materialized. She therefore did not want to miss the chance when all the men of the house were absent to influence him to sleep with her. She caught Joseph by the garment, saying; "lie with me" but he left his garment in her hands and ran outside. At this moment, she knew there will be two possible outcomes from Joseph running out; he has being attacked or he's attacking someone. She chose the storyline that will sound well in her favour and as well keep her dignity as a married woman. 

The way she presented the message with Joseph's garment in her hand sound true but it was a sweet lie she told to the men of the house. Lairs will have different versions of their storyline and so, if there's something to use as proof, they won't want it destroyed least they have nothing to defend them. She kept Joseph's garment by herself until her husband came. Is it possible to hold on with the garment of your enemy for long? No! You'll be irritated even by the sight of it. She exchanged the blessings God brought to her home with lies. The blessing is with Joseph and so once he's taken out of the house, his blessing also departs from the house. Don't allow sweet lies to sweep away the blessings of the Lord in your life. 

 Dear beloved in the Lord, just as Joseph fled from her, so must you also flee from any form of sin - fornication, adultery, bribes, malice, drunkenness, etc. It is better to flee than engage in them for the consequences will be too great to bear. Before men, you'll be guilty but the Judge Himself knows you're innocent. Fear Him that kills both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).

Have you told a sweet lie before? Was it to cover up for your own crime or for others? It's time to ask God for forgiveness. Framing people up and watching their lives being destroyed is a bad thing before God. If you fail to change, your punishment awaits you. If you're called to give an account of what you've witnessed, do well to tell the truth about the situation. Avoid massaging issues so it will favour you. In the same vein, if you're to give judgment of a problem, understand the matter every well before you give your judgment. Let not sweet lies proceed out of your mouth, use your mouth to proclaim God's Word. Sweet lies usurp your blessings, do not entertain them in your life. 

Prayer: Merciful Father, forgive me for all the lies I've massaged in the past telling others its the absolute truth. I pray for solace for the souls I've hurt with my lies. I pray by the power of the Holy Spirit, truth shall proceed out of my lips at all times no matter the circumstances. Thank You for the knowledge of Your truth. In Christ Jesus have I prayed. AMEN!