PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Joshua 7-8
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.” (Joshua 7:13)
These stories teach us how deadly sin and selfishness are.
God is not against people, but the evil within people that ruins them.
God works through flawed human people to establish a foothold.
Through it all God is establishing a foothold for grace, hope and rest.
God is fighting to overcome evil, and we see this most clearly in Jesus.
Jesus steps into our violence and selfishness, but doesn’t give in to it.
Jesus breaks the cycle of selfishness and death, and offers us hope.
Jesus stands up to evil for us so that we can stand up to it with him.
Jesus followers are not free to indulge sin, but free to fight it!
Achan turns God’s grace into an opportunity to indulge himself.
His specific sin was greed… what is your specific secret sin?
Do I realize what this does to me, my family, and those around me?
I can’t stand against selfishness in the world unless I deal with it in me.
Jesus wants to help me, but can’t help if I don’t cooperate.
PRAYER
Lord, this is a hard story, but it reminds me of how bad selfishness is, and how it hurts so many people. Help me to start by removing the root of sin in my heart.
“I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.” Someone stole from what was supposed to be devoted to the Lord from the spoils of the battle!
That was Achan – and he was found out and confessed – then punished by stoning. A visible sign to remind the people. How often do I need to be reminded of the consequences of sin? O Lord help me to see there is nothing hidden from you! Bless me with a contrite spirit that I may seek to worship you and confess completely all my sin!
Do this and Live.
Do not give hearsay to the law of the Lord, but do as it says.
All for Jesus. He needs to be first in all things. I need to live out of that word this day and every day. What would Jesus do? I need to do as He did. My heart needs to be changed so that in all things I put Him first. The JOY principle – Jesus -Others – Yourself. Live His Word by my words and deeds.
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be