“He who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.” – Joshua 7:15

Scripture reading: Joshua 7:10-15

Joshua had asked the LORD, “What will You do for Your great Name?” (Joshua 7:9). That was a good question, because that is the heart of the matter when it comes to our salvation. God saves sinful people for the glory of His Name. But Joshua asked the right question for the wrong reason, you might say.

We can be extremely thankful that God has chosen to glorify Himself by showing grace to sinful people like us, by saving unsaveable people. But we should never let ourselves imagine that being a church member somehow makes us immune from God’s judgement. God glorifies His Name by showing grace to repentant and believing sinners, not by tolerating spiritual adultery. James says, Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

We make a mockery of His Name if we become unfaithful and live in friendship with the world. Then we cannot expect God’s blessing, but His curse. The world is our enemy and we cannot stand before our enemy. We cannot defend ourselves from the world, much less overcome the world, as long as we live in friendship with the world. To love the world is to do an outrageous thing and transgress the covenant of the Lord. It makes us the enemies of God and we will fall, along with the world, under His wrath. Then God will defend the glory of His Name by justly judging us.

Suggestions for prayer

Pray that God will keep you and all His people from wishing to be friends of the world, and that He will help you to seek the glory of His Name by your complete devotion to Him.

Rev. Dick Wynia is currently the minister of the Vineyard Canadian Reformed Church in Beamsville, ON.