THE BATTLE PLAN

Scripture for the day: 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Thought for the day: The people had safely crossed the flooded Jordan river. Joshua was a hero among the people for the hand of God was clearly upon him. As they camped there by the riverbank, Joshua went off by himself, perhaps to spend time alone in prayer, perhaps to strategize concerning the city of Jericho and how they would overcome such a huge, well-fortified obstacle. Without Jericho being defeated their conquest of the Promised Land would be over before it began. Hero or not, there was a lot of weight on those two shoulders.

Suddenly Joshua met a man all dressed in battle array. He spoke with this man and was assured of his allegiance, then spent some time with the Lord in preparation for the coming battle. Picture him as he returns to the "mighty men of valor" waiting there in the camp.

"Well, gentlemen, I want to share the battle plan with you. I think you're going to appreciate the simplicity of it all."

The men are excited. "Tell us, Joshua! What have you come up with?" They just knew he had a brilliant plan of attack.

"Here's what we're gonna do. We're going to arm for battle, surround the priests as they carry the Ark of the Covenant, and march around the city of Jericho. We're going to be absolutely silent as we march and we're going to go all the way around the city one time and then come back here to camp. We're going to do the same thing for the next six days. Then on the seventh day - and here's the really exciting part of the plan - we're going to march around that old city seven times. When we've completed the seventh revolution of the city, the trumpeters (did I tell you about the trumpeters?) are going to give out with a mighty blast on their horns and we're all going to shout at the top of our voices! Pretty bold, don't you think? Pretty radical, isn't it?"

Joshua looked out at a sea of blank stares. Finally, one of the leaders of a thousand said, "What!?! That's your plan? That's what you've spent the last three days coming up with? We're going to yell and the walls are going to fall down? Joshua, what's wrong with you?!" And suddenly the entire crowd erupted in a confusion of sound as each of those expected to lead his men into battle voiced the very same opinion of Joshua's brilliant plan.

And I can picture Joshua standing silently as the men argued among themselves. Finally, raising his hands for silence, he stares out over the crowd. Do you trust me? Do you trust in the God who has brought us this far? We will do this God's way.” And we know the rest of that story.

Literally thousands of years later a little man filled with nervous energy wrote to a group in the city of Corinth and said, "When I came there to plant the church that now meets in your homes, I determined to do it God's way. I didn't go to special training sessions concerned with how to plant churches. I didn't read all the latest books, study all the latest demographics, develop a theological strategy designed specifically for your city and the types of people who live there. I prayed; I looked to God for wisdom that comes from beyond the greatest minds in the world. I knew only Jesus and the message of the cross. My methods made no sense to anyone who has studied how to do these things. My message was far too simple for those who would inundate with theological persuasion. But the Spirit led me to keep it simple, keep it relevant to you, and to preach the message of the cross of Christ. I was seen as ignorant by many, dangerous by others."

The question is - has always been really - in whom do you trust? On whom are you relying for the answers in your life? Are you looking to all the self-proclaimed gurus out there who want to tell you the "proven steps to success?" Or are you willing to rely on the One who has already given you the Promised Land He's set before you? Please don't misunderstand; I'm not denigrating education or study or any of the other methods people have come up with. But when I read my Bible, I see the call to unwavering faith and radical obedience to the plan of God as the only road to victory. It's God's way or no way.

Now go take on your world. - Bill