Genesis 39:12 etc. – MOVING UP
There are times when God requires us to leave something behind in order to move up to something better.
LEAVING TEMPTATION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS – Genesis 39:12 (Genesis 39:7-12)
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Joseph refused to be enticed by Potiphar’s wife.
However, the temptation became so great that he had to run!
Joseph moved up by maintaining his righteousness when tempted. 1 Corinthians 10:12-14
LEAVING SECULAR WORK FOR FULLTIME CHRISTIAN SERVICE – Matthew 4:20
(Matthew 4:18-22)
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
In Matthew 4:19 Jesus called the apostles to follow Him and that he would make them “fishers of men”.
Not every Christian is called to full time Christian employment, but everyone is called to follow Jesus full time. Luke 9:23-24
LEAVING A GIFT FOR RECONCILIATION – Matthew 5:23-24 (Matthew 5:21-14)
Matthew 5:23-24 – Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
When we come to worship and realize someone has something against us, we are to leave our gift of worship and first be reconciled to our brother.
LEAVING THE CARES OF THIS WORLD FOR RECONCILIATION – John 4:28 (John 4:25-30)
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
The woman went to draw water, but found something more important than the cares of this world.
She left her water pot to go tell others about Jesus.
LEAVING THE BASICS FOR MATURITY – Hebrews 6:1 (Hebrews 6:1-2)
Hebrews 6:1 – Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Our learning of Scripture should move us beyond the very important basics of the Gospel into a life of Christian maturity.
LEAVING WEIGHTS AND SINS FOR THE RACE – Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The weights are anything that will slow us down.
I believe that sin being referred to hear is unbelief.
Our focus is to be on Jesus.