Scripture Union Daily Guide 19 August 2024 For Today’s Devotional (Monday) Topic is Sin Destroys
TOPIC: Sin Destroys
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, I pray that you lead me into your truth as I meditate on your word in Jesus name.
Before you continue Study Yesterday’s Devotional: Scripture Union Daily Guide 18 August 2024
SCRIPTURE for Today: JOSHUA 7:1-26
Achan’s Sin
7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things[a]; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,[b] the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.”
4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai,
5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads.
7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?
9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”
10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?
11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.
12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
13 “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.
14 “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man.
15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”
16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen.
17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen.
18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.
19 Then 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.”
20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done:
21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia,[c] two hundred shekels[d] of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels,[e] I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor.
25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.
26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor[f] ever since.
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
* Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
You Can Connect to MFM Devotional for Today’s Lesson Here: MFM Devotional 19 August 2024: The Man That Walketh Not
Scripture Union Daily Guide for Today 19 August 2024 Outline
Achan yielded to lust (vs.21; compare 1 John 2:15-17). God had given specific instructions through Joshua concerning the city of Jericho and all that was in it (6:17-19). They were to dedicate them irrevocably or forever to the Lord. Notice the consequence of disobedience on the sinner, his family (vs.24-26) and the entire nation (vs.4&5)?
Innocent men died in battle, Israel’s faith was shaken, and fear paralyzed them. Joshua who had been following God’s instruction meticulously missed it this time by underestimating the enemy and failing to seek God’s direction. Innocent members of Achan’s family died. Our sin has disastrous consequences on us and those around us. Millions of people in Africa are suffering because of the sins of their leaders. Indeed, the wages of sin is death.
God has given us specific instructions in the Scripture (read 2 Timothy 3:16). It is compulsory that we obey them lest we fall into the error of Achan. What temptations are you dealing with of late? Trust God for the grace to resist them. Read Titus 2:11-12.
Practice/Word Application
And so? Continually examine yourself, confess, and receive cleansing to remain on the victory side.
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
For Further Study
Further studies: They are Esther 6:1-3; Daniel 3:21-25; Daniel 6:16-22 and. Exodus 14:13-22.
You Can Connect to Rhapsody of Realities for Today’s Lesson Here: Rhapsody of Realities 19th August 2024: It’s Your Job To Let Them Know
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Daily Guide Devotional For Today 19th August 2024 (Thursday) Anthem
WE HAVE A MESSAGE
1 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
And time now is speeding, the moments are few;
The Master is come, O make haste to receive Him,
For sinners He waits; He is calling for you!
Refrain
For you He is calling, for you He is calling,
Yes, Jesus is calling, is calling for you.
2 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
A message of hope to the weary of heart;
The love of my Savior, there’s nothing so precious,
The friendship of Jesus will never depart.
3 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
A message of love to the poor drunkard’s soul;
The love of my Jesus will snap all his fetters,
The blood of my Savior makes perfectly whole.
4 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
O do not reject Him and forfeit your soul!
The Savior invites you just now to receive Him,
And in His great love to be made fully whole.
Closing Prayer
Turn Psalm 139:23-24 into prayer.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 20:6
“Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.”
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 232- Habakkuk
You Can Connect to Open Heavens for Today’s Lesson Here: Open Heaven 19 August 2024: Handling Failure
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN 19 AUGUST 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
SU STAFF AND LEADERS.
You did not choose, but I chose you and appointed you. John 15:16
THANK GOD FOR:
‣ Willing men and women that he has chosen and called to serve in the SU.
PRAY FOR:
‣ More commitment for all leaders at all levels- Council, Regional, Area, Zonal and Group Committee members to lead his people.
‣ The travelling staff; HODs, Regional Coordinators, Travelling Secretaries and Missionaries for divine enablement; their families and protection in all their journeys.
‣ God to raise more dedicated workers to cope with the expanding ministry.
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