Cost of Disobedience

Joshua commanded the nation of Israel that they should not take any of the accursed things from Jericho, things associated with the demonic worship practices of the Canaanites.  Up to this point, Israel had experienced only victory.  Joshua must have expected an unbroken string of victories!  Of course, that was God's desire, too - for Israel then and for us today.  God provides every avenue to make victory possible for us.  But God has given us the free will to choose, and our choices can either lead to victory or failure.  Too often, we choose to go our own way and fall into sin.  Remember, obedience is better than sacrifice!  The Canaanites could not defeat Israel, but Israel could be defeated by themselves!  As a result of Achan's sin, God removed His hand of protection and blessing.  The failure of one man led to the defeat of the entire nation.  God never honors disobedience!  That defeat showed what sin can do in our lives.

When we encounter a failure or an unexpected storm, we attribute it to the devil.  For believers, God promises to cover and protect us with His blood. Then how does the devil get a hold of our life?  Every sin in our life, every act of disobedience, gives a foothold to the devil to operate in our lives.  Every unconfessed sin also gives a foothold to the devil.  Failure does not stop with us; it also touches our families.  So when we encounter failure, we cannot just blame the devil.  We have to look within and see where we have failed.  Are we left without help or hope in the midst of our failure?  No.  The good news is that something can be done.  Remember, a failing in life does not make life a failure!  God calls for a confession of our failure, our sins, and our transgressions.  When we come clean to God, He is willing to forgive us.   

My friend, today is the day of salvation.  Let us be careful and not give a foothold to the devil.  Sit in God's presence quietly and evaluate your thoughts, actions, principles, and life in general.  The Holy Spirit will bring to our mind even small things, decisions where we have missed the mark.  Then, repent and return to the Lord, for the Bible says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Then, the Lord will give us victory!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me, for I have been disobedient in many ways.  I confess that I have transgressed the law of God.  Jesus, forgive me and give me victory in the works of my hands.  Amen

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