- But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel. Joshua 7:1 – This is the third passage I’ve seen this week that unpacks this point: Your actions do not just have an effect you alone. Especially when we look at our church family this message is so important to hear. Let’s say you choose to get a little lazy in your prayer times and scripture reading. Also you get busy and start missing church. Obviously we can see how that will effect your spiritual walk, but does it effect anyone else’s? How would your not being at church effect your church family? How would you not studying God’s Word effect someone coming to you for advice? How would not being active in prayer effect the way you make decisions that involve more than just you? See, no matter how much you think your choices spiritually only effect your walk, you are so wrong. If you’re not healthy, those connected to you feel it too. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
- Joshua 7 Daily DEVO Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” Joshua 7:13 – We can’t stand when we remain devoted to things that aren’t God. Here we see the whole nation feeling the effects of one man’s selfishness. He chose to disregard God’s command and keep things that God told him never to have. As a result, not only did the man feel the pain of that but the nation did as well. We can’t complete the mission God’s given us if we won’t follow the command to set aside the things we devote ourselves to other than God. What then might that be for you? What’s something you know God has asked you to set aside and you know it’s interfering with your walk with Him? Choose today to finally set it aside. See firsthand what God can do through you when you set aside the things that are holding you back. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1171
- Joshua 7 – Pastor Mac Daily DEVO Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!” Joshua 7:6-7- Joshua is finding himself in a hard spot, one you too may have found yourself in before. His desire is to faithfully follow God and from what he is aware of, he is. His heart is in the right place and he is seeking to fulfill the call God placed on him. Then defeat hits. He loses in battle, loses men, and finds himself overwhelmed and confused. He’s remaining faithful, but the outcome wasn’t blessing. Whether it’s with Joshua or us, this is a hard place to find ourselves. When we too are trying to live faithfully and follow Jesus daily, but what we see in our story sure doesn’t feel like blessing. In Joshua’s situation, we see why things unfolded like they did for him. Sin had been committed and needed to be dealt with. Now for us we can’t just read ahead a few verses or skip ahead a chapter to see the reason, but even if we can’t immediately see the reason we can have faith God has a reason. His promise is to bless and provide for those who faithful follow Him, so when the cards dealt by God to you don’t seem like blessing, know God has a reason. Keep remaining faithful, as difficult as that may be, for God is worth our faithfulness. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2466
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