"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control?? Gal: 5: 22?23

JONATHANS INTERNATIONAL

Periodical publishing spiritually edifying articles, prayer requests etc

Published [E-edition only] by Bible Study Centre; P. O. Box 14,

Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala?680651; INDIA

              EW. 2/2007.                                                                                  Aug 5--Aug11, 2007

THE NOBLE SOLDIER  II

T. John Mathew

    The words that Jonathan spoke to his armor bearer before going to the Philistine garrison deserve our special attention: We read, "Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few" [1. Sam: 14: 6]. These words show that Jonathan was willing to trust God and go in obedience to Him. If he knew that God wanted him to go he would surely go and nothing would prevent him from obeying his Lord. He was confident that his God would enable him to defeat his enemies. Instead of thinking about his limitations, he thought about the great power of the almighty God. He had a vision of God's power and greatness; he knew nothing was impossible for Israel if their God who had delivered them from Egypt, made ocean-bed dry land, given them food from heaven and water from rock, was with them. He was certain that victory over Philistines depended fully on God's will and not at all on Israel's might. He was motivated by God-confidence, which made him self-confident too.

    We have to note that Jonathan considered himself a mere tool in the hands of God. He viewed victory over the Philistines as a work of God; he would not consider it a human accomplishment. He wanted to give all glory to God; he did not want to be considered a hero. He recognized the fact that he owed to God all his abilities and everything he had. His desire to glorify God and his readiness to be used as a mere instrument in God's hands show that he was very humble and selfless. His words, "the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few" reveal his great faith in God as well as his understanding that it is by human instruments that God is pleased to do his work in this world. He knew that refusal on his part to be used as an instrument in God's hands would deprive Israel of a great victory and the God of Israel, His might and glory. So, with great humility he let himself be controlled by the Holy Spirit of God and went alone to the Philistine garrison, unaccompanied by anyone except his armor bearer. Our world today needs men and women who are selfless like Jonathan, ready to work hard and risk dangers for the glory of God and for the salvation of their fellowmen.

    Children of God today ought to become selfless like Jonathan and they should seek the glory of God instead of their own glory. They ought to become humble instruments in the hands of God. If we let this transformation take place in our hearts, the name of the living God  will be glorified all over the world and many who are dead in trespasses and sins will become new creations in Jesus Christ [2. Cori: 5: 17].

                                                                                       [To be continued].