Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

July 25– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“He left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got out.” 

—Genesis 39:12

In contending with certain sins there is no way to gain the victory than by “getting out.” Wickedness has a way a hypnotizing those who gaze at it, and it puts us into a place of solemn danger. The one who wants to be safe from acts of evil must stay away from occasions of it. A covenant must be made with our eyes to not even look upon the cause of temptation, for such sins only need a spark to produce a great fire.

Who would knowingly enter a prison laced with disease and sleep in the middle of its horrible corruption? Only he who desires to become diseased himself. If the sailor knew how to avoid a storm, he would do anything to avoid the risk of weathering it.

Today I may be exposed to great danger, and I’ll need to have the serpent’s wisdom to keep out of it. The wings of a dove may be of more use to me than the jaws of a lion. Yes, I may appear to be a “loser” by declining evil company, but I had better leave my cloak behind than lose my character. I don’t have to be rich, but I must be pure. I should resist the Devil, and he will flee from me, but the lusts of the flesh I must flee or they will surely overcome me.

God of holiness, preserve your Josephs from the world’s seduction. May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil never overcome us! [M&E]25