Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 15
Wednesday


NO LOOSE
LACES

READ:
Joshua 7:1-12
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The children of Israel
committed a trespass
regarding the accursed
things, for Achan...
took of the accursed
things. __Joshua 7:1
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One person's actions can affect an entire group. This truth became clear to journalist Sebastian Junger as he followed a platoon of soldiers. Junger watched a soldier accost another soldier whose bootlaces were trailing on the ground. He didn't confront him out of concern for his fahsion. He confronted him because his loose laces put the entire platoon at risk__he couldn't be counted on not to trip and fall at a crucial moment. Junger realized that what happens to one happens to everyone.

Achan's "bootlaces were loose," and we learn from his story that sin is never private. After the great victory at Jericho, God gave Joshua specific instructions on how to deal with the city and its loot (Josh. 6:18). The people were to "abstain from the accursed things" and to put all the silver and gold "into the treasury of the LORD: (vv.18-19). But they disobeyed his command to them (7:1). The interesting thing is, not all of Israel sinned; only one person did__Achan. But because of his actions, everyone was affected and God was dishonored.

As followers of Jesus, we belong to one another and our individual actions can impact the entire body and God's name. Let's "tie up our laces" so that we may individually and together give God the honor He deserves. __Marvin Williams

``````````````Lord, we know our sin is never private, though we```````````````
``````````````may try to hide it. Help us to remember that we````````````````
````````````belong to You and to one another and that what we do`````````````
````````````individually grieves You and impacts fellow Christians.`````````````
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Private sins will inevitably have public impact.

**************************Today's Bible Reading __ Joshua 7:1-12***********************

1 But the children of Israel
committed a trespass
regarding the accursed
things, for Achan...took
of the accursed things; so
the anger of the LORD
burned against the children
of Israel.

2 Now Joshua sent men
from Jericho to Ai,...
saying, "Go up and spy out
the country." So the men
went up and spied out Ai.

3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him,
"Do not let all the people
go up, but let about two or
three thousand men go up
and attack Ai. Do not
weary all the people there,
for the people of Ai are
few." 4 So about three
thousand men went up
there.... 5 And the men of
Ai struck down about
thirty-six men...;
therefore the hearts of the
people melted and became
like water.

6 Then Joshua tore his
clothes, and fell to the earth
on his face before the ark
of the LORD until evening,
he and the elders of
Israel....

10 So the LORD said to
Joshua: "Get up! Why do
you lie thus on your face?

11 Israel has sinned, and
they have also transgressed
My covenant which I
commanded them. For they
have even taken some of
the accursed things, and
have both stolen and
deceived; and they have
also put it among their own
stuff. 32 Therefore the
children of Israel could not
stand before their enemies,
but turned their backs
before their enemies,
because they have become
doomed to destruction.
Neither will I be with you
anymore, unless you
destroy the accursed from
among you."