Verse of the Day 7/17

Joshua 7:13 (NIV)  "Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

 

What is it that keeps us from a right relationship to God, to loved ones and friends?  There are other things that "steal" our attention our devotion from the things that truly matter.  Joshua was calling for the people to consecrate themselves, set themselves apart for God.  To do so would mean putting away, even more than that, destroying those idols that stood in the way of a right relationship with God.

 

The same holds true in our personal relationships.  There are things that we may want to hold onto that get in the way of a right relationship and that relationship will not be right until those things are removed.  Once they are, things will come back into order.

 

In my devotions this morning I read the following verse in Proverbs 21 that illustrated today's verse and showed the benefits of it.

 

Proverbs 21:21(HCSB) The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.

 

Righteousness involves being in right standing before God.  Seeking "good standing" in that relationship will carry over into all others.  It is the root of faithful love.  The one who finds that finds life, life as it should be, right standing before God and your loved ones, and honor.

 

Are we willing to remove those things that stand in the way?

Blessings,
Mike
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Joshua 7:10-13The Message (MSG)

 ^10-12 God said to Joshua, "Get up. Why are you groveling? Israel has sinned: They've broken the covenant I commanded them; they've taken forbidden plunder—stolen and then covered up the theft, squirreling it away with their own stuff. The People of Israel can no longer look their enemies in the eye—they themselves are plunder. I can't continue with you if you don't rid yourselves of the cursed things.

 ¹³ "So get started. Purify the people. Tell them: Get ready for tomorrow by purifying yourselves. For this is what God, the God of Israel, says: There are cursed things in the camp. You won't be able to face your enemies until you have gotten rid of these cursed things.