TUESDAY April 2, 2019

Are You Sitting on the Sidelines?

Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there.  Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.
1 Samuel 14:16-17

The watchmen of King Saul noticed multitudes of people, just melting away in a great confusion, and informed Saul, who was sitting under a pomegranate tree. Saul, along with his men and all the people of Israel, were left wondering, What is going on; how come all these people are running?  King Saul, not in tune with God or with what was happening, decided to call roll. Jonathan and his armorbearer were not among them––notice how Saul really did not know too much about his son!

Jonathan was in the right place at the right time––in God’s perfect will. Saul and his men were not engaged in the battle. They were all kicking back, out of tune with what God was doing, completely bewildered and left out of the action.  Imagine, God knew the heart of Saul––he was disobedient and rebellious. Saul always wanted to take the glory in battle, so God could not use him.  More importantly, God knew the heart of Jonathan and used his life to the fullest. I love the way God works.

Seriously, when we are not in the perfect will of God, we feel as if we are on sidelines, looking at others who are actively serving the Lord, wondering, What on earth is going on? God is doing a great work! Sadly, many Christians are just kicking back on the sidelines, doing their own thing. They are observers, when they should be fully engaged with other Christians in the battle.

Do not be a Christian found sitting on the sidelines––engage in the work of the ministry. Serve the Lord, good soldier of Jesus Christ!

You therefore must endurehardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
~2 Timothy 2:3-4~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!