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PUBLISHED ON August 16, 2022
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10 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even 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 were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Joshua 7: 10-12 KJV

The major problem with believers of today is that they assume they can combine the service of God with earthly desires and requirements. Serving God but still importing unholy traditions into their daily lives. Some serve God and still practice what unbelievers are doing. You are sanctified with the blood of Jesus and as such you are required to show content with what you have and not lie or steal, divert, and practice what you are not supposed to do. The Bible text above was God’s word to Joshua, after Achan from the family of Judah, had sinned against God by coveting and taking the spoils of war and hiding them in his tent. Achan sinned because he longed for the wrong thing. Long throat and covetousness are practices that attract the punishment of God, run away from it. It’s a tradition that is not allowed for a Christian to partake in.

Stop thinking that people are your problems or someone is working against your progress, but rather study your situation and search for loose connections. If you have erred, confess your sins and turn a new leaf with God. If you haven’t, like Job, retain your integrity and your change will come. Anytime you see any difficulty or drawback in your expectations, your first point of action should be to isolate yourself at the place of prayer and search your life properly to know the fault. Not until God revealed the cause to Joshua, him and the rest of Israel were helpless. Watch your wants so that the longing for them won’t land you in the wrong place with God.

Today’s thought: “Any major punishment should be observed to know what caused it.”

Keynote: Watch what you want and be content with what you have. Any gain and resources you acquire illegally will make you impure before God and will profit you nothing at the end.

Counsel: Always check yourself and your conscience. Make sure your motives are right and overcome the spirit of greed and sin by consciously deciding to live right no matter what at all times.

Prayer: Help me LORD to look away from the things I want that You haven’t given me yet. I receive the grace to live holy and the discipline to be content with what I have so help me LORD. My hands are open O LORD to receive what is mine from You in Jesus name, amen.