our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Destroying the Divides
I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. Joshua 7:12
A writing deadline loomed over me, while the argument I had with my husband earlier that morning swirled through my mind. I stared at the blinking cursor, fingertips resting on the keyboard. He was wrong too, Lord.
When the computer screen went black, my reflection scowled. My unacknowledged wrongs were doing more than hindering the work before me. They were straining my relationship with my husband and my God.
I grabbed my cell phone, swallowed my pride, and asked for forgiveness. Savoring the peace of reconciliation when my spouse apologized as well, I thanked God and finished my article on time.
The Israelites experienced the pain of personal sin and joy of restoration. Joshua warned God’s people not to enrich themselves in the battle for Jericho (Josh. 6:18), but Achan stole captured items and hid them in his tent (7:1). Only after his sin was exposed and dealt with (vv. 4–12) did the nation enjoy reconciliation with their God.
Like Achan, we don’t always consider how “tucking sin into our tents” turns our hearts from God and impacts those around us. Acknowledging Jesus as Lord, admitting our sin, and seeking forgiveness provides the foundation for healthy and faithful relationships with God and others. By submitting to our loving Creator and Sustainer daily, we can serve Him and enjoy His presence—together.
Lord, please help us recognize, confess, and turn away from our sin, so that we can nurture loving relationships with You and others.
God can purge our hearts of the sin that destroys our intimacy with Him and others.
恢复关系
你们若不把当灭的物从你们中间除掉，我就不再与你们同在了。-约书亚记7章12节
虽然交稿日迫在眉睫，我与丈夫今早的争执却仍萦绕心头。我盯着荧幕上不断闪烁的游标，手指放在键盘上，心里想着：“主啊！他也有错呀！”
当电脑荧幕变暗时，映照出了我愤怒的神情。我不愿承认自己的错误，这不仅阻碍我的工作，而且也影响我与丈夫、与上帝之间的关系。
我放下自尊，拿起电话，请求丈夫原谅。我尝到了与人和好的平安，因丈夫也向我道歉。感谢上帝，最后我准时交稿。
以色列百姓也曾因一人犯罪而全民受苦，但之后得享与上帝和好的喜乐。约书亚早已提醒上帝的子民，不可在耶利哥之战中私攒财物（约书亚记6章18节），但亚干却将掳获的物品藏在自己的帐篷里（7章1节）。等到他的罪行被揭露且经过处置之后（4-12节），以色列民才能与上帝恢复和好的关系。
正如亚干一样，我们也经常忽略“把罪藏在帐篷里”会使我们的心远离上帝，并连带影响身边的人。若要与上帝、与人维持健全与信任的关系，就必须尊耶稣为主、承认我们的罪，并寻求饶恕。天天顺服这位创造我们、扶持你我，满有慈爱的上帝，我们才能一起事奉祂，享受祂的同在。
主啊，求祢帮助我们能看清、承认并转离我们的罪，
好让我们与祢、与人之间有更亲密的关系。
上帝能除去我们心中的罪，让我们与祂、
与人保持亲密的关系