ESOCS Devotional 13 August 2024 – Do Not Permit Evil Within the Fold
MEMORY VERSE: “That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies, they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.” Joshua 7:12 NIV
TEXT: JOSHUA 7:1-15
But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of [c]Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, 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, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, 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 from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; 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; and they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”
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. 12 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. 13 Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.” 14 In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the Lord takes shall come according to families; and the family which the Lord takes shall come by households; and the household which the Lord takes shall come man by man. 15 Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’ ”
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The Christian faith comprising of those truly converted to Christ in all Christian denominations constitute the body of Christ. Every congregation forms a part of that whole body. Within the congregation is an authority set to administer the congregation. The ESOCS Church is one of such congregations forming the body of Christ. The word of God, as stated in the scripture, bears the commandment and rules for righteousness with which the entire Christian body operates (Romans 1:16-17). The Church must be run and administered in such a way that individual members will keep to the faith and doctrines of the body of Christ.
In our text today, we see that Israel suffered shame as a result of the sin perpetuated by one man. The report of the event reads thus: “Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to devoted things, Achan … took some of them so the Lord’s anger burned against Israel” (Joshua 7:1). As a result, when Israel attacked Ai, Israel suffered defeat in that “… they were routed by the men of Ai who killed about thirty-six of them” (Joshua 7:3-5).
Church administrators have a huge work to do in order to keep the congregation in line with the faith and doctrine of Jesus Christ. Leaders must be men who know the purpose and direction of the Church and not carnal men who pursue pleasure and self-gain through Church administration (Joshua 7:6-9).
As members, we must show loyalty in all our actions. Loyalty is to the Church and to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We should not transfer loyalty meant for God to godfathers and self-pleasure.
Moreover, identified defaulters within the system must not be pampered but made to face due process of discipline. It helps to sanitize and give people proper direction in the congregation. There is no way Church will be in total peace with the Lord when we ignore to sort out and discipline defaulters (Joshua 7:10-15).
Our God is a righteous God. He has given us the power to live like Him in righteousness (John 1:12).
- Is it not possible to be loyal to the Church and God?
- Lord, may I not bring ruin to the body of Christ through disloyalty to you, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Daniel 8:15-end; Luke 6:1-11; Acts 12:22-end
ESOCS Devotional 13 August 2024
