Bible Readers

April 3 – Today’s Readings – Deuteronomy 7-9 and Psalms 93

I have a spiritual assignment for you today. I challenge you to go on a prayer walk based on Deuteronomy 6:26 – “Do not bring a detestable thing into your house”. Walk through your house THIS WEEK – do not delay – and pray in every room. This is how you are to pray: “Is there anything in this room, which displeases you Lord? Is there any item that You would not decorate Your house with? Is there any book or publication that you really would not have in your house? Is there an item that causes me to daydream of “Egypt” when I look at it? Is there an “idol” which makes me believe that I am God – or that I am invincible – or leads me away from God? Is there anything that brings temptation to sin?”

Once you have cleaned house, why don’t you send me a comment, letting me know of your victory. I know that spiritual warfare has to do with a whole lot more than what is in our dwelling but our homes ought to be a place of refuge – a place where we can worship and pray unhindered – a place where people who visit can see who we really are, not who the world would like to make us.

I remember giving this same challenge to a group some years ago – then we actually lit a large bonfire in the church parking lot and burned or smashed anything we felt needed to go. Into the fire went photos, videos, disks, games, magazines, posters, TVs – etc. It was quite amazing to see what God had spoken to people about. It was of course a very individual thing as the Holy Spirit spoke to people but this whole exercise made me think of the early Church of Ephesus when, “Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (Acts 19:18-20)

It’s wonderful to see how the Lord takes our lives and systematically “cleans house”. This process of sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit and His alone. He speaks into our lives and light shines in the darkness, revealing things that need to be surrendered. His grace then provides us with the ability to get rid of those things that are not good for us. Our society constantly de-sensitizes us to the horror of evil things by inundating us with them. We think nothing of doing things – watching things – valuing things – that would make Christians from other parts of the world or former generations cringe.

Philippians 4:8 reads, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” The focus doesn’t always have to be on the “do nots” when we walk with the Lord. Sometimes, if we simply focus on the wonderful things of God, the “do nots” will fall away quite naturally – the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Questions:

1. Which physical items in your house have to go so that God can be honoured in all things?

2. Which spiritual things or habits have to go?