Polluting God's Love

Joshua 23:11-15 -  So be very careful to love the LORD your God.  "But if you turn away from him and intermarry with the survivors of these nations remaining among you,  then know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive them out from your land. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap to you, a pain in your side and a thorn in your eyes, and you will be wiped out from this good land the LORD your God has given you.  "Soon I will die, going the way of all the earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!  But as surely as the LORD your God has given you the good things he promised, he will also bring disaster on you if you disobey him. He will completely wipe you out from this good land he has given you.

 

About 28 years…Joshua has led this people through victory after victory over the heathen people that occupied the land that God was giving them to live. They worshiped other gods…prayed to idols….practiced strange and inhumane things in the name of their gods. Now he was old…and close to his death…and like the mighty Moses…Joshua gives the Israelites one last word of wisdom and encouragement before he breathes his last.  He reminds them with as much voice as he can gather…that God will not tolerate these other gods in his midst. He warns them that trying to mix with even one person who does will allow Satan a foothold in their lives…that will eventually destroy the relationship they have built with Yahweh.

 

We need to be careful not to confuse God’s patience with the sins around us as approval for what is being done.  God did not just wipe out these pagan worshipers…he gave that job to the Israelites.  He wanted them to be obedient…and follow the command he had given them…to destroy any and all people who worshiped another god besides him.  God knew that just one strong willed pagan would pollute the whole nation of Israel.

 

This one is hard folks…cause we live in a different world now.  When God put his final plan to save the world in motion…he sent his son to die for us…and save our souls from the sin we committed. Now each person has a choice to follow him at whatever level they choose. That leaves Satan whole lot of room for his trickery...and he is always planning a way to convince us that sin...even a small one is okay.      Joshua is warning us here….just as he did the Israelites …that one small sin can pollute the love that God has built in our hearts…and eventually the small sins he tricks us into….will grow to take over the spot God used to live.

 

We have to be strong folks…and verbal against the things we know the Bible has told us are wrong…even when it costs us friendships…even when we know that we will be bashed for the stance we take.  God ordained marriage between a man and a woman…you can’t twist the scriptures to support the other option. Any religion that does not worship the one true God …Yahweh…is powered by Satan. And when we let anger….drugs or alcohol rule our lives instead of God…they have become an idol…and need to be removed from our lives.

 

I must always remember to love the person…as Jesus did when he invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home….or when he let Mary wipe his feet with her tears of thankfulness.  He could see the seeds of change planted in Zacchaus’ heart as he looked up into that tree… and he knew that Mary had already asked for forgiveness for her former sins.  So I must pray for the same discernment the father gave Jesus… to see soul around me and the seeds already planted there…to help them see their need for God…and know they are ready to hear his truth.  But until God reveals that moment when they are receptive to receive his love… I must always gently rebuke the sinful choice….letting them know I still love them as a person…planting new seeds that might someday grow into a love for God.

 

Father…I thank you for the reminder to put sin completely out of my life.  I ask that today you give me the tools I need to be like you.  To see the heart of each soul that crosses my path…and discern whether to plant a seed of love…or rebuke the behavior I know is wrong…and offer the hope of life with you.   Show me how to speak the truth of the Bible to others…and allow your love to do the rest.  Amen.