He made a covenant with them . . . then he showed them the king’s son. (2 Kings 11:4)
“I NEVER LET THEM THINK about it,” Gordon told me. He was explaining his approach to dealing with prospective customers for his landscape business. In response to my puzzled expression, he explained more fully. “When a customer says ‘Let me think about it’ after a presentation, there’s really nothing to think about. They have all the information. They’re just hesitant to make a decision. So I push them to make a choice.” It makes sense, actually. We put off many decisions until forced by some deadline or circumstance to declare ourselves. Sometimes we need a little push to make the right choice.
Jehoiada knew that. The country was divided, with a usurper ruling the country. Some supported Athaliah’s illegitimate reign, no doubt. But it was time for everyone to make a choice, to declare themselves one way or the other. Jehoiada called key leaders together and forced the question: Will you support Joash or not? When they had sworn a covenant, Jehoiada revealed the king.
What spiritual commitment are you “thinking about”? Do you need more information? Do you need to study the Bible more? Have you not prayed about it? Or, like a hesitant customer, do you already have the information you need but are unwilling to declare a choice? It’s time to close the deal. Will you follow the Spirit’s leading, or not?
Make a decision you’ve been avoiding, then tell someone about it.
Lawrence W. Wilson is the author of A Different Kind of Crazy (WPH) and coauthor of The Long Road Home (WPH). He lives in central Indiana and blogs at www.lawrencewilson.com.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
