Be Ready

"So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night. He commanded them, saying, 'See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them. They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, "They are fleeing before us as at the first." So we will flee before them. And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.'" -Joshua 8.3-7

The sin of Achan has been dealt with, and now God instructs Joshua on how he is going to conquer Ai. After getting God's battle plan, Joshua prepares his warriors for battle. Some of them are going to prepare an ambush behind the city while the rest draw the men out of the city. Joshua's instruction is for the them to be ready and close to the city.

They are going into a fight, and they must be ready for the right moment to attack. They must be dressed for battle with their weapons in hand. God's plan calls for careful timing and swift execution. If Israel is going to be victorious the men doing the ambushing must be ready.

Men, are you ready for battle? Are you dressed for a fight? Are your weapons close sharp and in hand? Most likely it isn't a physical fight, but are you ready for the battle for your heart?

The life group I lead is currently divided by gender and I am leading the guys through Wild at Heart. This past week we were in chapter eight which focuses on the enemies we do battle with. As I was preparing for our discussion I read something I knew would be brought up. John Eldredge shares the story of a young man who was heavily involved in sexual sin. Countless woman offered themselves to him and he accepted what they gave. Each time he would try to resist, but each time he gave in he resolve was weakened. The point of conversation was when john says the turning point came when the young man began to see it not so much as sin but more as a battle for his strength.

To be clear, John is not saying that the fornication is not a sin, he is saying there is something bigger behind it. I've been thinking about it for the past few days and I've realized something, the devil's goal is to possess us and keep us from serving and obeying God. The source of a man's strength is his heart, and that is what Satan fights to control, and in turn, keep God from controlling. He will do whatever it takes, in the case of this young man it was sexual sin that caused him to compromise his strength. What is it for you?

Each day we face battles for our hearts, are we ready to attack the enemy when he comes after us?

Let us be ready for battle so that we can strike at the right moment. Let us be armed and close by. Let us be ready.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor