Today's Reading:Joshua 7:1-26
"Achan's Sin"
Focus Verses: Joshua 7:19-21
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me." 20 Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
Insight:
The story of Achan is sad and tragic. It's sad that Achan valued possessions more than he valued obedience to God. It's sad that he somehow thought he could hide his sin from God and from others. It's tragic that his sin resulted in others losing their lives. It's tragic how his self-indulgence turned out to be self-destruction.
Response and Action:
My secret sins are no secret to God. Still, I have secret sins and it's easy for me to identify with Achan. I don't want secret sins to destroy me or to hurt others. How many times have we all seen that!
I am thankful for the grace and forgiveness God has extended to me through Christ Jesus. I want to live a life that is fully devoted to him. I will not bury sins under the “tent floor” of my life. I will strive to be honest with God and with others. With the guidance of God’s word, and the transforming strength of the Holy Spirit, I can escape the snares and temptations of selfish desires.
O God, help me to walk with integrity. Do not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. Strengthen me to stand and provide ways of escape. Transform and shape my heart so that I desire what you desire. Help me to remember that I am not my own, I have been bought with a price. Help me to live a life of devotion to you. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.
Proverb for Today: Prov.30:8
"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread."
New Testament for Today: 1 John 1:8-9
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
In Context: 1 John 1:1-10
Resources:
The Smell of Sin: And the Fresh Air of Grace
by Don Everts
