Today's Passage - Joshua 7:21

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 7:21   When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."     Achan's confession tells the story of his crime. When he entered Jericho, he saw a "beautiful" robe from Babylonia. He thought that it would be a terrible waste if those goods were burnt. Did God really say that everything needed to be burnt? Devil's voice, once tested Adam and Eve, appeared again: Doesn't God want us to enjoy fine things? Wonderful things are God's blessings. But when those make us unable to follow God's command, they have taken God's position in our heart.   When God command Israelites to attack Jericho, He clearly told them that everything belong to Jericho had to be burnt. It is because Jericho at that time was a city that worshiped idols. Almost everything there had something to do with idols. That's why God command Israelites not to take anything from the city, so not to let their hearts go astray from God. Don't think that this is such a small thing. Greed is the biggest sin that binds today's believers. Greedy for money, houses, even other's wives, husbands. Even though we are greedy, tried all our might to grab, our hearts would never be satisfied. We only value God's blessings, but neglected Jesus Christ, the one that can really gave us blessings.    Many minor transgressions in our daily life, if not dealt with, can ultimately bind us. On the other hand, don't ever think that since you are just a layman in the church, it is ok to be defeated or be weak. Spiritual war is an all-out war, and it's not good enough to have just one or two people win. We must all win together, including you and I!  God didn't mean to have one or two cross the Jordan River, but all the Israelites must cross it. Brothers and sisters, you and I are affecting each other. If I, a pastor, become weak and fall, then cease to be a witness, will that affect you? I believe it will. At least I hope it will! If you are weak and fall, cease to be a witness, wouldn't it also affect me? Pastors are not like Iron Men, there are times for tears, cries, and sadness. We are all in the Lord, and we should learn the lesson of being responsible for each other; always be watchful and purify ourselves, always work on getting rid of all the pride, greed, and self-righteousness within us, and then we will be victorious in spiritual battles. May God help us!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, may you shine upon us and let us recognize the sin of greed within us: We are greedy for things we are unable to obtain, but we feel empty even when we finally obtained those things. May God forgive us and may God's spirit fill our void once again so that we will feel true satisfaction.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus Christ, amen!