Slack Not Thine Hands
Today’s Verse:
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. ~Joshua 10:6
The Great Commission of our Lord is that we win the world to Christ through the preaching of the gospel and the start of local churches. The Great Commission is given to the local church to fulfill. It is not a consideration, but a command. In our devotion this morning, we see the Gibeonites calling to Joshua to come to their aid. It was a life-and-death situation. There was no time for deliberation or delay. If Joshua did not respond quickly, many lives would be lost. We see a powerful picture of a lost world that needs us to respond with urgency.
We must move with fidelity.
Joshua made a vow of protection to the Gibeonites. He was expected to come to their aid. We have a solemn responsibility to be diligent and faithful in the spread of the gospel. We are obligated to obey Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8. “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.”
We must move with fleet.
“Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us.” Joshua was in Gilgal. The travel distance was several hours. The Gibeonites requested that he come quickly to save them. We must be moved with urgency in getting the gospel to every sinner. “Slack not thy hand.” We cannot be lazy, slothful, or procrastinative. We waste too much time by putting critical things off to another time. Behold, now is the day of salvation!
We must be fearless.
God knew that Joshua would have some apprehension. So, He tells Joshua, “Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand.” We must not take stock in our fears. God is on our side. God compensates for our weakness and inadequacies. Whom God calls, He equips. “Be not afraid of their faces.” We cannot be afraid because we lack: whatever deficiency we have, God more than makes up for it.
We must move with fervency.
“Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.” Joshua summoned all his men of war and traveled through the night to meet the enemy head-on. Fervency is when we are ardent, diligent, and focused and when we put our heart into what we do. Paul said that we must be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Being fervent is being ready in season and out of season. It is the spirit of always abounding in the work of the Lord.
We must move to foil.
Joshua went with the intent of overthrowing every enemy attacker. When we move forward with the gospel, it is with the idea that we are going to take land from the enemy. We will defeat the enemy through prayer, soulwinning, and discipleship and in the power of the Spirit.
We must move to finish.
Joshua was a great military commander because he fought to finish. We are not done until a new church is started, the gospel is given to every household, and souls are won to Christ. Don’t start something, then stop. Start with the idea that we are going to finish. Let us have a revived resolve to win the world to Christ. Don’t let the opportunity slip through your fingers. Let’s move quickly to save and to help.
Have an urgent God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 25-27