JOSHUA 7:1-12
The activities of a single person can have a large impact on a group. As journalist Sebastian Junger followed a platoon of soldiers, this truth became evident. Junger stood there watching as one soldier confronted another whose bootlaces were dragging on the ground. He did not confront him because he was worried about his appearance. He dud so because his poor lacing placed the platoon’s safety at risk – he could not be relied on not to trip and fall at a key moment. Junger realised that whatever happened to one person affects everyone else.
Achan’s “bootlaces were loose,” and his story teaches us that sin is never private. Only Achan, not all of Israel, sinned. However, everyone was negatively affected as a result of his deeds, and God was dishonoured.
We belong to one another as followers of Jesus, and our individual actions have the potential to affect the entire body and God’s name. Let us “tie up our laces” so that we can give God the honour He deserves, individually and collectively.
Private sins will eventually have a public impact.
🙏🏼Lord, we know that our sin is never private, no matter how much we attempt to hide it. Help us to remember that we belong to You and to each other, and that what we do individually grieves You and has an impact on other Christians.
REFERENCE:
Edwin J. Delattre; 2011;
Character and Cops: Ethics in Policing (sixth edition)
AEI Press
