THE INFECTIOUS -ITES
Today's reading: Deuteronomy 20-22
"You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites , Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, just as the Lord your God has commanded you. This will keep the people of the land from teaching you their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 20:17-18 NLT
The Promised Land offered hope, rest, bounty--and infectious influences.
God knew that unless the children of Israel 'cleaned house', the influence and impact of those native to the land would permeate their worship of Him.
He wasn't wrong!
The Israelites weren't long in the land when they noticed the pocket gods of those around them. And they were intrigued. They were swayed. They were influenced. They were soon dabbling in the worship of those idols AND attempting to stay true to God.
It never works.
Ever.
That's why God asked them to completely destroy their influences.
Maybe He is speaking the same things to us, in regards to the influences around us.
The things we watch.
The things we read.
The things we listen to.
The things that steal our time.
The things that divide our hearts.
The things that separate us from loving Him with our whole hearts.
The things that seem tiny, inconspicuous, irrelevant.
The things that infect us.
