Daily Reading & Prayer

The Trouble with Temptation

March 24, 2021

Read

Joshua 7:1-9:271 Chronicles 2:7

Think

Joshua 7:12-13, “I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction…. the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.”The temptation of materialism can come in many forms. It may be the glitz and glamour of cars and clothes, the desire for a certain type of house, or the lure of the latest gadget. It’s not defined by the financial value of the object, but by the value we place on it. And if we let it, materialism can take us down the path of destruction.When Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor Him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” Achan finally confessed and told him where he had stashed his plunder. He saw the riches and couldn’t resist. His desire to own them was greater than his desire to obey God. His actions revealed his priorities. Because of his sin and the sins of others, it brought trouble to Israel as a nation.It may seem harmless to indulge and give in to temptations. But once we go down that path, it ends up consuming us. We may think, “It’s my life and I can do whatever I want!” However, our choices also impact those around us and can cause everyone in our circle of influence to follow suit.God wants us to honor Him with our lives and not give in to temptation. We can’t be a stumbling block to others. We need to be a leader in positive change.

Act

Pray

Dear Lord, I want to resist the temptations of this world. Help me stand strong and devote myself entirely to You. Guide me to be an example of Your love and lead others in the way everlasting. Amen.

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