The Destructive Power of Personal Sin

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Verses:Judges 20:1-5 "Then all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, and from the land of Gilead, and the congregation gathered together as one man to the Lord at Mizpah. And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers who drew the sword. (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the children of Israel said, 'Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?' So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, 'My concubine and I went into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, to lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me, but instead they ravished my concubine so that she died."

The story of the Levite's concubine in Judges 20 serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of personal sin. The concubine's death, which was caused by the wickedness of the men of Gibeah, led to a series of events that ultimately resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. This tragic event demonstrates how personal sin can have far-reaching consequences that affect not only the individual but also those around them.

When we sin, we open ourselves up to spiritual darkness, moral decay, and ultimately, destruction. Our personal sins are not just our own business, but they can have far-reaching consequences that affect those around us. We must recognize that our feelings and desires are not the standard by which we should live. As humans, we have a tendency to follow our feelings and desires, but this is not the way of God. God's way is one of obedience, submission, and surrender to His will.

The only way to avoid the destructive power of personal sin is to decide not to sin. This is a personal decision that each of us must make. We must choose to obey God's commands and to live a life that is pleasing to Him. When we do this, we will experience harmony and blessings in our lives, rather than destruction and chaos.

Let us learn from the story of the Levite's concubine and decide to obey God's commands. Let us choose to live a life that is pleasing to Him, and let us experience the harmony and blessings that come from obeying God.

Prayer:

Dear God, help us to understand the destructive power of personal sin. May we decide to obey Your commands and to live a life that is pleasing to You. May we experience harmony and blessings in our lives, rather than destruction and chaos. May we always seek to glorify You in all that we do.

Amen

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