The Accursed Thing

Joshua 7:12 - [And the LORD said] 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.

Israel suffered loss of men who were attacking a city. It grieved Joshua and he went to the LORD in his anguish. Our God knows all things! He knew that one man had previously disobeyed the command to not take any possessions of their conquest of Jericho. And here came the consequences.

God revealed to Joshua the fact that one man took of the accursed things and because of this He could no longer be with Joshua in his battles unless that thing had been destroyed.

This makes me think about our own salvation. As long as we cling to an accursed thing, a sin or multiple sins, God cannot stand beside us. If we cling to our sin instead of turning away from it, we cannot be considered children of God. God has His standards. And we must be obedient to them. It's the way it is.

In the case of the accursed things in Joshua, they were possessions. They were hands-on type of things that this man saw, coveted and had to take. What in our lives do we know we should let go of? What do we cling to? Is our reputation or family or things more important than being in relationship with God? Do we seek those things before Him? 

He will require we remove things from our lives that He might sanctify us. But though He wants things removed He replenishes with things above and better, beyond our imagination. But sometimes we cling to those "accursed" things of this world. Today some of these accursed things are considered the lust of the flesh...

Lord, what is it that you desire for me to let go of? What accursed thing do I cling to that You would prefer I turn from? Reveal anything that might hinder my walk with You.

1John‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

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