“That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to Me now, while there is time. Give Me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord your God,for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before” (Joel 2:12-14).

Does it seem that you’re in a hard season in your life? Does it seem as though God has hidden Himself from you? Do you find it hard to hear from the Lord concerning your decisions and situations? If your answer is “yes” to one or more of the questions, then I can tell you, you’re not alone. The natural question to ask at this point is, “Why”?

Hebrews 11 tells us that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. We are definitely living in a season where many people in the church have turned a deaf ear to the Lord. As a result, it has impacted the entire body of Christ in a negative way. Lest you think that what other Christians do doesn’t impact the rest of the body, let’s look at some Scriptures. Paul was correcting the church of Corinth, because they allowed a man who was committing fornication with his father’s wife (step-mother) to go unchallenged. He warned them that sin which is tolerated is called leaven, and leaven will spread through the entire loaf of bread. Leaven is a metaphor for spiritual pride in the church.
Another example of the entire body being affected by a man’s sin is the account of Achan. Joshua sent a small delegation of Israel’s army to fight in Ai. They had just defeated the fortified city of Jericho and all of its mighty men of valor, so the adrenaline of the men was running high. Achan had taken a portion of the spoils from Jericho (the accursed thing) and had hidden it in his tent. This went against the commandment of God. As a result of Achan’s sin, the men of Israel were defeated by the men of Ai. This greatly discouraged Joshua and the men in Israel’s army. One man’s sin that remained covered, just as the sin of the man at the church in Corinth, caused the army of God to lose a battle.

What do we do as obedient Christians about the sin (in the camp)? Please read today’s passage again. We must turn to the Lord and seek Him as never before. Why does the Lord require us, even those who are obedient and living sacrificially, to offer more prayer and time for the sake of others who are in sin? Do you remember Lot, Abraham’s nephew? He was in Sodom and Gomorrah at the same time that God was about to destroy them. Abraham asked God if He would destroy the righteous with the wicked. God told Abraham that He wouldn’t destroy them for the sake of ten righteous people (if there were ten righteous, then He wouldn’t destroy it). What was Abraham doing? He was interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah. Because he prayed, God showed Abraham what would be required to preserve the lives in those plains.

Let me challenge you today on the authority of God’s Word to begin praying and seeking the Lord on behalf of the body of Christ around the world. Who knows, perhaps God will relent from the things that have been set in motion and reveal to us a new plan of restoration. After all, He’s the God of restoration. We’re the ministers of reconciliation and restoration. We sure do have a lot of work ahead of us, but wouldn’t it be great to see God glorified on earth through His obedient church?  —submitted by Asa Dockery, US