Sin’s Effect

The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?  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. Joshua 7:10-11

Israel had just experienced a miraculous victory over the city of Jericho. Fresh into the promised land, the nation, and its leader felt very confident in God. As they continued to press on in obedience, they came to the minuscule town of Ai. This town was hardly worth sending in all the troops. One battle later, they people were routed and their spirits crushed.

Enter Joshua. A broken man, responsible for leading people who just suffered the loss of thirty-six men. Wifes lost husbands and children lost dads; this was a devastating loss. What went so terribly wrong? One man sinned against God.

I for one will admit I rarely think about how my sin affects those around me, until after the ensuing collateral damage. There is an important lesson here for all men: our action and inaction do not simply affect us. No man lives in a vacuum. He is part of a family, a workplace, a church body, and so on. The reverse of this is also true. When a man takes his spiritual life seriously, this too has an impact on those around him. Get in the game and make a lasting spiritual impact on those around you.

DO THIS TODAY: Share this devotion and challenge another man to up his spiritual game.