Things We do Instead of Repenting.
Memory Verse:
'I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. '
John 15:5
Sermon Sentence: Repentance is hearing God’s word, admitting where we have sinned, and turning toward obedience.
'I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. '
John 15:5
Sermon Sentence: Repentance is hearing God’s word, admitting where we have sinned, and turning toward obedience.
Day 1
Read Joshua 7
I don’t know if you are like me, but I struggle reading this story to pay attention to the story as opposed to hearing what I have been taught to hear. The point of the story, according to my tradition, is that the devoted things that Achan took were the equivalent to all sin and therefore we should realize that hidden sin can be the thing that destroys everyone around us. I mean, that is some of the idea here, but it is also taking a lot of assumptions too far. The devoted things were only devoted things because God declared them that. In the following stories, we will see God saying different things that are supposed to happen to the people of the land than we see in this story. In the next story, they are told to take some things. Since the command changes, we can’t use the pieces of the story as a blanket idea. It is a good point to make that we should not have the things that God has told us not to have. God’s word matters. The reason that they are things we should not have, is because God’s word has said that. The biggest problem highlighted in this story is that Achan did not listen to God. What he did is not as important as the reality that the reason it was wrong is because it was against God’s word. Once we establish that in the story, the rest becomes safe to walk through as well. Yes, when we hide things from God, it is probably a good indication that there is sin involved. We should also pay attention to the fact that hiding things that God’s word calls for us to stay away from can also affect those around us.
What does this story call for you to pay attention to in your life today?
How does God call you to respond to this story this week?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
I don’t know if you are like me, but I struggle reading this story to pay attention to the story as opposed to hearing what I have been taught to hear. The point of the story, according to my tradition, is that the devoted things that Achan took were the equivalent to all sin and therefore we should realize that hidden sin can be the thing that destroys everyone around us. I mean, that is some of the idea here, but it is also taking a lot of assumptions too far. The devoted things were only devoted things because God declared them that. In the following stories, we will see God saying different things that are supposed to happen to the people of the land than we see in this story. In the next story, they are told to take some things. Since the command changes, we can’t use the pieces of the story as a blanket idea. It is a good point to make that we should not have the things that God has told us not to have. God’s word matters. The reason that they are things we should not have, is because God’s word has said that. The biggest problem highlighted in this story is that Achan did not listen to God. What he did is not as important as the reality that the reason it was wrong is because it was against God’s word. Once we establish that in the story, the rest becomes safe to walk through as well. Yes, when we hide things from God, it is probably a good indication that there is sin involved. We should also pay attention to the fact that hiding things that God’s word calls for us to stay away from can also affect those around us.
What does this story call for you to pay attention to in your life today?
How does God call you to respond to this story this week?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 2
Read Joshua 8:1-29
This is the follow up story from yesterday’s story. So after all of that happened that we read yesterday, then what? Well this is that story. They went back to God and asked what to do. God told them to go up to Ai and attack again. Then they won. It is easy to see that Achan’s problem was resolved and therefore that is why they had victory, but that is not the only difference between the two stories. In this story, Joshua is told to send up the whole army, not just a few. Also in this story, we get the strategy that is used to surprise the enemy as well as a story about Joshua holding up a javelin while the army attacks. Does that remind you of anything? It is meant to remind you of Moses in Exodus 17. Remember, that is how this book started, by reminding you that this was a continuation of the story that was told about Moses and his leadership. It would be helpful to keep looking in these stories for the moments that remind us of that story.
Once again, don’t lose sight that this story is telling you about being obedient to the word of God. Joshua is a leader like Moses, that was yielded to the word of God. Achan told a story that was the opposite of that when he chose to create his own truth rather than accept God’s truth. Now we see that after repentance from the sin of not following God, there is a restoration to accomplish the task that God has sent them out after.
Do you think there is a lesson to be learned in the second way this battle is fought? What is that lesson?
Why did Joshua hold out the javelin the whole time the army was invading?
What do you think the application for your life is from this story?
This is the follow up story from yesterday’s story. So after all of that happened that we read yesterday, then what? Well this is that story. They went back to God and asked what to do. God told them to go up to Ai and attack again. Then they won. It is easy to see that Achan’s problem was resolved and therefore that is why they had victory, but that is not the only difference between the two stories. In this story, Joshua is told to send up the whole army, not just a few. Also in this story, we get the strategy that is used to surprise the enemy as well as a story about Joshua holding up a javelin while the army attacks. Does that remind you of anything? It is meant to remind you of Moses in Exodus 17. Remember, that is how this book started, by reminding you that this was a continuation of the story that was told about Moses and his leadership. It would be helpful to keep looking in these stories for the moments that remind us of that story.
Once again, don’t lose sight that this story is telling you about being obedient to the word of God. Joshua is a leader like Moses, that was yielded to the word of God. Achan told a story that was the opposite of that when he chose to create his own truth rather than accept God’s truth. Now we see that after repentance from the sin of not following God, there is a restoration to accomplish the task that God has sent them out after.
Do you think there is a lesson to be learned in the second way this battle is fought? What is that lesson?
Why did Joshua hold out the javelin the whole time the army was invading?
What do you think the application for your life is from this story?
Day 3
Read Acts 5:1-11
Our main story of the week in Joshua 7 is about a man named Achan that took from Jericho what was devoted to the Lord. Many people have taught that the things were to be destroyed, but that is not what the text told us in Joshua 6:24. Why does that matter? Because the sin of Achan was one where he took what he desired from God’s presence, for his own benefit. The consequences of this sin do not seem to make sense until we wrap our minds around that idea. The point is not that God really needed that gold and silver and therefore was short changed, but that this was something taken directly from God. What kind of arrogance is needed to actually rob God?
This story looks a lot like the story in Acts 5. Once again, the point was not that God had asked for the property from Ananias and Sapphira, or even that God needed it. The point that brought about what seems like, the harsh punishment was that they chose to lie about what they had given and take from God the glory that He deserved. They were making a name for themselves and were trying to do that in the very place of the worship of God. This was way more than just property that was misused, this was a lie to the very face of God.
How do we do similar things like these two stories in this day and age?
What do you learn about God when you compare these two stories?
How does this inform your prayers for today?
Our main story of the week in Joshua 7 is about a man named Achan that took from Jericho what was devoted to the Lord. Many people have taught that the things were to be destroyed, but that is not what the text told us in Joshua 6:24. Why does that matter? Because the sin of Achan was one where he took what he desired from God’s presence, for his own benefit. The consequences of this sin do not seem to make sense until we wrap our minds around that idea. The point is not that God really needed that gold and silver and therefore was short changed, but that this was something taken directly from God. What kind of arrogance is needed to actually rob God?
This story looks a lot like the story in Acts 5. Once again, the point was not that God had asked for the property from Ananias and Sapphira, or even that God needed it. The point that brought about what seems like, the harsh punishment was that they chose to lie about what they had given and take from God the glory that He deserved. They were making a name for themselves and were trying to do that in the very place of the worship of God. This was way more than just property that was misused, this was a lie to the very face of God.
How do we do similar things like these two stories in this day and age?
What do you learn about God when you compare these two stories?
How does this inform your prayers for today?
Day 4
Read 1 John 2:1-14
The problem with the story that we looked at in Joshua this week, is the fact that it is the repeated theme of the Bible and our sin problem. Story after story the Bible tells about these human beings that bring into God’s presence, those things that bring death and destruction. We can argue away the story in Joshua with the context that makes it less like us, but the truth is that we turn the page, read the next story and find ourselves wrapped up in another one that tells about sin a little bit more like we are used to. None of us escape the sin problem. That is the lesson and it is also the obvious message that Paul wrote about in Romans 3:23.
That is why this strange word found only in 1 John is so interesting. It is a word that backs up other places in the Bible where this sacrifice on our behalf is talked about. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. That is not a typical word from our normal language. So you may not be familiar. It basically means the appeasing gift. Think about that for a little while. Jesus was the payment that satisfied our debt. His whole life was given so that we don’t have to face the same penalty that Achan faced on that day. We are guilty of a very similar sin…regardless of how we want to spin it…but Jesus paid it all, with His whole life.
How would you describe to someone this idea of propitiation?
Explain verses 4-5 in this passage and why they matter so much.
How does this study today become part of your prayer?
The problem with the story that we looked at in Joshua this week, is the fact that it is the repeated theme of the Bible and our sin problem. Story after story the Bible tells about these human beings that bring into God’s presence, those things that bring death and destruction. We can argue away the story in Joshua with the context that makes it less like us, but the truth is that we turn the page, read the next story and find ourselves wrapped up in another one that tells about sin a little bit more like we are used to. None of us escape the sin problem. That is the lesson and it is also the obvious message that Paul wrote about in Romans 3:23.
That is why this strange word found only in 1 John is so interesting. It is a word that backs up other places in the Bible where this sacrifice on our behalf is talked about. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. That is not a typical word from our normal language. So you may not be familiar. It basically means the appeasing gift. Think about that for a little while. Jesus was the payment that satisfied our debt. His whole life was given so that we don’t have to face the same penalty that Achan faced on that day. We are guilty of a very similar sin…regardless of how we want to spin it…but Jesus paid it all, with His whole life.
How would you describe to someone this idea of propitiation?
Explain verses 4-5 in this passage and why they matter so much.
How does this study today become part of your prayer?
Day 5
Read 1 John 2:15-29
I am certain that this is probably not the first time you have read 1 John 2:15-29. If you have been following these devotions over the years, then you have seen it before. I have brought up 1 John 2:16 a few times in these. If the Old Testament tells the stories of sin and the humans' relationship to it in narrative form over and over again, then 1 John 2:16 is the commentary for how this happens. It makes us wrestle with the thought of what is “of the world” and what is not. If we are supposed to be against all of the worldly things, then how do we interact with the world around us day in and day out?
As we think about that, we are brought to the conclusion of the chapter when John tells us that we are to abide in Christ.
What do you think it means to abide in Christ?
What do you think John means about the difference between those things that are of God and those things that are of the world?
How does this become your prayer today?
I am certain that this is probably not the first time you have read 1 John 2:15-29. If you have been following these devotions over the years, then you have seen it before. I have brought up 1 John 2:16 a few times in these. If the Old Testament tells the stories of sin and the humans' relationship to it in narrative form over and over again, then 1 John 2:16 is the commentary for how this happens. It makes us wrestle with the thought of what is “of the world” and what is not. If we are supposed to be against all of the worldly things, then how do we interact with the world around us day in and day out?
As we think about that, we are brought to the conclusion of the chapter when John tells us that we are to abide in Christ.
What do you think it means to abide in Christ?
What do you think John means about the difference between those things that are of God and those things that are of the world?
How does this become your prayer today?
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