2 Chron 7:14
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. ESV
- It isn’t enough to just admit you have sinned. God wants us to turn from our sins. Anything short of turning from our sins would be us deceiving ourselves. James 1:22 speaks of those who hear but don’t change. We learn that it feels good to hear and to know, but it isn’t until we do that we will be helped. Judges 10:16; Prov 28:13;
Joshua had done so good about seeking God up until the below story. God had told Israel to wipe out all the inhabitants in the promise land and people showed up pretending to be from far away out of the promise land when really they lived close. God would have told Josh had he asked, but instead he was fooled by lies. It seemed locical in his analytical brain that they were from far away due to the way their food looked so he didn’t think he needed to ask God.
Even if something makes logical sense, you still MUST seek God’s counsel so that you are not deceived. Just because something is a good idea does not mean it is a God idea.
Josh 9:12-15
12 This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. 13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. 15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
NKJV
…Josh 9:22-23
22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying,’We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves — woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
NKJV
Amanda Vander Klok
Matt 18:6
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. NKJV
- Today this verse makes sense. I have recently heard several people’s stories and it honestly hurts to hear it. It hurts because I don’t have a time machine because no matter what I do, I can’t undo the past. I can tell them things to live a different future but I can’t make choices for people, it is up to them to make and walk out some hard choices. These stories all seem to have something in common. All the stories have a villain. At some point in the story you see a character (or characters) that shows up and then things start heading south. Someone beats them, someone lies to them, Someone takes advantage of them, someone sets a horrible example, someone hurts them in one form or another. You hear the story and I want to travel back in time to before the moments and stop people. I actually would like to inflict large amounts of bodily injury upon the villains. I hear the stories and so many of them sound alike. It is the same lies, the same people and you get so mad. I read this verse and it feels good to know they will pay. But then I think Some of the villains know they are the villain in the story, some are just so focused on themselves they don’t have a clue that their choices are destroying lives all around them. God I ask that you would open up their eyes and draw their hearts to you. Let them find a new life in you. May they see the impact they have had on others May they repent, leave it all behind, and find your forgiveness. Lord, help me and everyone who reads this to see not only what impact our choices have on ourselves but what affect they have on those around us. We want to live lives that draw people to you. Have your way in us.
