Things Intended For Destruction.

This little post is about a story so sit back, be intrigued and maybe you can learn a similar lesson? I don't know, but here are my thoughts.

There once was an entire group of people- there were hundreds of them, no- thousands... wait! millions of them. They were everywhere and they were wandering. They had a label- it was "God's People" and wherever he went they were supposed to follow. He blessed them, guided them and spoke to them. He made his presence unavoidable by day in the form of a cloud and inextinguishable by night in the form of fire. He stayed with them always. He showed them his faithfulness over and over, repeatedly telling them the same promises and yet, they made the same mistakes over and over, repeatedly spitting on his word. He offered them an undeserved relationship- unrelenting.

In one of the occasions where He was going to prove his faithfulness yet again, God's People disobeyed. After careful instruction they still disobeyed. You see, God said, "But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it." So, the leader, Joshua, told the people that all they should keep from the land they conquered were the precious metals they found and those would be set apart for only God. BUT, low and behold, an Israelite did NOT obey. He decided to take some things that were meant for destruction and (of course) he hid them. The story goes on to say how God's people went in to take over another nation however, this did not go over seamlessly. 36 of God's men died- not a usual occurrence because they always had God with them, fighting FOR them. God's people's "hearts melted" and Joshua, their leader tore his clothes because he was so inexpressibly troubled. He questioned God on why he allowed them to fail knowing that it revealed weakness to the rest of the nations when Israel was defeated. God in return declares, "don't you know?! there is sin in the land! I will be with you no more unless you ravage the items that I initially instructed should be destroyed!" (not an exact translation; read it yourself in Joshua 7) Then he tells Joshua to take this message to the people.

The next day, God tells Joshua to separate the people into tribes (there were 12 of them) and after God selected the tribe of Judah, he instructed him to break them into clans, then from there he broke them into families and then from there into households and then to a man. Achan from the tribe of Judah, the clan of Zerahites, household of Zabdi was chosen. Joshua says, "Give glory to Yahweh and give praise to him. Tell me what you have done, don't hide any more." Achan answers humbly and precisely, disclosing every single item that was intended for destruction that he instead hid under his tent rug. Joshua questioned Achan on why he brought trouble and then told him that trouble would now fall on him. Achon was stoned. Nothing of him remained. No more family. No more tent. No more rug. No more items intended for destruction. It was all destroyed. The next chapter narrates the incredible feat the Israelites claimed in the renewed battle against the original nation they lost 36 men to. God's presence was with them yet again.

NOTES:
God is serious about his declarations and he cannot be present where there is sin. One man's sin affects the entire body of Christ. God gives Achan a chance to repent (I don't think it was quick for Joshua to take every single man, one by one, up to the altar...it took lots of time). The wages of sin are death.

Application:
What sin am I hiding from Jesus??
In Ephesians 5, it says that Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her- he sanctified her by the washing of water with the word- he presented her to himself in splendor- holy and without blemish. The sins I hold onto in my life- or even the sins I allow to come into my tent (like Achan) God intended for destruction. When I cling to them- his presence cannot be with me...Jesus washes me which allows God to look at me. The only reason I am worthy for God to just look at is because of Jesus. (now I'm humbled.)
How quick am I to repent? To change my ways? To do a 180 turn around?

I realize this isn't a comfortable story. Seriously, I do. When I read it this afternoon, I had to dwell on it and soak in the words. They are intense and so real. God's severity and seriousness is totally frightening. So, after reading this I had no choice but to let those tears stream down my face and repent for the things intended for destruction that had settled itself in my heart.

This is beautiful. And it's so true.
Men want to define and women want to be defined.
Men desire to lead and women desire to be led by their man.
Men search for beauty and women want to become purely beautiful.
Men love a chase but boy do women want to be chased.
The list goes on and on.
It's perfect. The Lord created this all perfectly. But, don't forget- this perfect picture- it's a model of who he is. Don't you see? He created this lovely combination to be a reflection of himself and HIS love, his passion, his pursuit of us, individually. Watch the video.

Found this today. I was stunned at the words I allowed myself to honestly type. Perhaps you can glean something from it as well as I did? A little background, a friend of mine went on a long mission's trip and this was something I was thinking about while he was gone. It never quite made it to him. But, maybe that's exactly the point.

Missions Trips are the worst kinds of trips. Not because they, like every other trip, end, but because they force you to lie to yourself. You come back to wherever you came from and you swear that you’ll be different... that the old ways have gone and that there is something so much better you can show your fellow homekind. But sooner or later, you come to the earth shattering conclusion that not only did you succumb to the pressures of a normal life in the states, but you fell into the lie you promised you never would and you slipped on the slippery slop of the mundane life you lived only a short while before. You get a glimpse of the beauty Jesus offers when you’re doing his work yet... You so easily get wrapped up in the patterns of day-to-day life, forgetting the precious little things you crossed-your-heart-hoped-to-die would never happen. Sure you receive the heads ups from you fellow hometowners who’ve experienced the same mountain top experience but instead of preparing yourself you roll your eyes telling them they simply “don’t understand.” But, let me tell you sweet follower of Jesus, they are telling the hard truth. It’s true that pretty soon you won’t spend a whole morning worshipping Jesus through the word and songs... Soon you’ll forget to stop and ask Jesus what he wants you to say to “this” person, you’ll become materialistic yet again, and I promise you you’ll waste the food that you once saw the lack for. You’ll become self centered and want to do what you want to do...when you want to do it and you will without a doubt only have a subtle memory of that beautiful mountain top that once held all the freedom and possibilities in the world. While I promise you all of that, at the same time I believe with all my heart that we have a witness to keep in our own towns. That people next door to you need Jesus just as much as the ones in China. Don’t let yourself forget that mountain top...in fact, when you realize it’s slipping from your view, chase it hard, reach for it and hold onto it- it’s what gets you through the tough stuff. It’s what makes you keep your faith. We ruin our witness constantly... I among the most frequent. But friend, what I’ve learned is we were born into ruining our witness and unfortunately, when we took our first breath we sealed the deal that we would do that for the rest of our lives..... The only thing we can do when we ruin it is to humbly accept the fact and seek forgiveness- by doing this, you grow even stronger and the Light in you shines even brighter. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is; don’t loose hope when that mountain top becomes out of reach... All of life is a season and that’s just another to add to the books. Nonetheless, carry yourself in such a way that you seek that same god-honoring feeling for the rest of your life. That mountain top was only your first in many relentless pursuits of the life Jesus has prepared for you. He still has much, much more for you to glean.. So, keep your ears open.

Love always, Anna

Most Days

Most days I wish I lived a life where it could never be mistaken where my strength comes from- one that is undeniably and solely fueled by the flame of Jesus.
Most days I regret not being thankful for the providence I am so generously given- new days, every day to turn new leaves and discover new beauties.
Most days I look back and realize the immense pain overshadowing my minuscule efforts towards a changed world- the baby steps I take if I even decide to take steps at all.
Most days I forget about those starving abandoned babies and the moms and dads struggling with the knowledge of that failure- I allow the absent grief of terrible situations to make itself at home in the infrequent occurrence of life changing concern.
Most days I ride right past my community's homeless people trying to not look in order to spare my personal comfort and the sadness and guiltiness I would indubitably feel lest I acted upon my conviction.
Most days I slide into sleep forgetting that I just relived a "most day" yet again.  

But, on the days that I fall asleep realizing that there is a great work ahead of me for tomorrow- that every second matters and every person is a soul that has an eternal destiny- those are the days I see Jesus with open eyes undoubtably working all around me. I repent for those mosts...and my heart cries out for the Lord's compassion once again.

It's my prayer that these types of days be replace one another.