Run First, Ask Later

Scripture: Genesis 39:12 – "She grabbed him by his garment and said, 'Sleep with me!' But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside."

Devotional: Joseph didn’t reason with temptation. He didn’t negotiate. He didn’t hesitate. He ran.
Too often we try to talk our way through temptation instead of running from it. We downplay it. We flirt with the edges. We tell ourselves we can handle it. But Scripture is clear: when it comes to sexual sin, the only strategy is to flee (1 Corinthians 6:18).
Running might make you look foolish to others. It might cost you your reputation. For Joseph, it cost him his freedom. But he still ran. Why? Because staying would have cost him something even greater—his integrity, his purity, his relationship with God.
When sin "grabs at you" through images, situations, or relationships, your response needs to be immediate. Look away. Exit the room. Shut down the browser. End the conversation. Run first. Ask questions later.

Prayer: God, help me to stop flirting with sin and start fleeing from it. Give me the strength to walk away even when it costs me something. Remind me that nothing is worth trading my relationship with You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:
 1. Are you currently trying to reason with a temptation you should be running from?
 2. What boundaries do you need to set right now?
 3. Who can hold you accountable when you're tempted to stay instead of run?