Healing for the Body

Joshua 7:1

But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel.

People talk a lot about the need for community but often don't address the dark side. One of the reasons the suburbs developed was to escape the oppressively crowded conditions of cities or the rural small town meddlings of people being in each others business. The suburbs became a place to create space and distance. We want to not be in the camp of community because of the danger of contagion of others' bad choices. Sin management in suburbia, but we take our own sin with us. Like a virus within.

With community comes conflict. Like young to-be marrieds, we long for companionship. Yet, once the couple settles down in the day-to-day, conflict typically surfaces soon, making the companionship ideal less starry and more scorching. Like the noonday summer sun, exposing our sins, flaws, and quirks to scruntiny. Nowhere to hide. The sun of self-righteousness has to be extinguished. We can shine on another without burning. Truth and Grace. Truth, to be honest. Grace, to forgive. For we have been forgiven much.  

                  

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