By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
TUESDAY
THEME: STAYING IN TOUCH WITH GOD
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 14:6
“Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
REFLECTIONS
It is a great blessing to draw close to God. If you have a relationship with God that is strong and built from dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, in quietness and solitude, you can decipher His voice when He speaks. Additionally, you can become very alert to His promptings and biddings when you have a one-on-one schedule with God. Those who walk with God need not hear God speaking audibly – they can make meaning to His promptings whenever the Holy Spirit speaks to the conscience. The mind that feeds on God’s word and rehearses the same in engaging God through prayer receives timely promptings that are genuine and God-stamped. God prompts, He speaks, but only the God-fearing will understand.
Jonathan, the son of King Saul, was not known to be a prophet. He was also not a Seer. But he was known to be a God-fearing, Christlike fellow full of love and commitment. By his nature, he had learned to trust God and His power. His character and the expressions of faith confirm His knowledge of God as a result of dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. He goes to war not in his strength and might but in the name of the living God. A selfless man who considered and prioritized anything God-related as of immense importance. Because of his closeness to God, he was fearless and exuded great courage and confidence. He demonstrates that we have access to faith, confidence, and courage that can surmount the seemingly insurmountable challenges in Christ.
Under divine impulse and prompting, Jonathan, with his armor-bearer, made a surprise attack on the Philistines. We read in 1 Samuel 14:6, “Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.” When you trust God fully, you will, without any constraint, experience the whole merit of His faithfulness. Those who trust the Lord and patiently wait on Him will surely renew their strength. Jonathan was assured victory in his closed-door meeting with God, so he requested a sign that worked for him (read 1 Samuel 14:7-12). In the name of God, he destroyed 20 men, and God took up the rest of the battle; the Philistines were plagued with confusion and were finally defeated (verses 20-23). What may scare you and cause fear may not even happen if God is with you. Only trust God.
Are you downhearted? Are you intimidated by any task? Have you battled with a condition for too long? Does a thorn in your flesh torment you? Remember, “It may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.” God has the power to make the impossible possible. He creates “asphalted” roads where there seems to be no way. Even amid the Red Sea, God constructed a road overnight that could carry a massive traffic of 600,000 men, not counting women, children, and animals. The secret of success is staying in touch with God. Take with you today Psalms 112:4 – “Unto the upright, there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” May the Holy Spirit give you the stamina to stay in touch with God on this day.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 473 – “Nearer My God, to Thee”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for being there to help you; thank God for giving you hope in the face of uncertainties; pray to stay close to God and believe His word;
– Pray for those who, by their actions, lost their relationship with God; pray for family members who do not take God seriously; pray for young people to learn to trust God;
– Pray for victims of war, disaster, and violence, especially innocent children, women, and the elderly; pray for Christian young men and women who are courageous like Jonathan;
– Pray for the prosperity and peace of the nation; pray for the leadership of the nation; pray for patriotism and the fear of God in the country; pray for healing for the sick and victory over your predicaments.
