May 30

1 Samuel 14:6 (NIV)
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”

1 Samuel 14:21–22 (NIV)
21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit.

Jonathan had no fear and completely trusted in the Lord. His armor-bearer was with him all the way. There was no shrinking back and no hesitation. The armor-bearer put his own life on the line along with Jonathan, so they battled together. There were others though that were turn-coats. A term used for people who switched sides. In this case it was whoever was going to win that had their allegiance. One more group was mentioned in verse 22. These were the fearful ones who were hiding until they heard that they were assured of victory and then they too joined the fight.

God is looking for Jonathans and armor-bearers. To be sure that those other groups, along with the army that stayed with Saul were to be used, but it was the faith of Jonathan and his armor-bearer that God shared his glory with. There are people in the church (body of Christ) today that are fair weather believers. The two groups here are in the church today. The first group is characterized by people who grumble and complain and who speak negatively toward God’s end and God’s leaders. There is always something wrong with what is going on, or something that the leaders are doing wrong. Not only are they not with the leaders like Jonathan, but they are positionally against them with the words of their mouth and in some cases their very actions. The second group are those who are afraid and it has paralyzed them. They hide among the world until a sure thing comes up and then they participate in that. Commitment is lacking and therefore they withdraw to comfortability. They wait for an opportune time when they are assured of personal satisfaction before they join the group.

You and I are the Jonathans and the armor-bearers of the church. We are meant for great exploits and believing for great things while we are taking great risk (for those without the spiritual eyes to see our victory that is secured by God). We are people who move forward even when others don’t for a variety of reasons. If there is any of those “other” groups within you today, any of their mentality, kill it – you were born for greater things than that. Step into your destiny as Jonathans and armor-bearers.