Day 102
We are continuing to focus on where you look as a principle of applying the Word to your life. Today we consider Achan; he was instructed not to take any items of spoil from Jericho as only Rahab the harlot should be recovered because of her faithful service to God. In Joshua 7:21 the Bible states: " When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it." What was the result of his looking at the things he shouldn't? In verses 24-25, we see, " And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones." Achan's sin brought destruction to his family also.
This is the point I want you to consider. Your failure to be in the Word (and this includes obedience) doesn't just affect you. It has an impact on those you care about. This is reason enough to give serious attention to where you look. However, let us consider the reciprocal truth. If you are looking in the right places (i.e. the Word) and if you are keeping yourself from the things you should stay away from, your family will not be in harm's way because of you and they will be protected. That is good news and certainly incentive to be faithful to where you look.
Today look at your time of study as forming a hedge of protection around not just you but also your family. As you are studying, meditating and allowing the Word to sanctify you, know that this hedge is going up all around you and your loved ones. Stay faithful to your holy calling and keep your eyes on the things of God. You will be glad you did (and so will your family)!
