Be A Jonathon

# 196 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:41-45, “Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot." So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, "Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me." So Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, and said, "I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!" 44 And Saul answered, "God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45 But the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.” (1 Sam 14:41-45) The lot falls on Jonathan and he confesses what he did to his father. Saul then in effect says, “yes, Jonathan you will die and if I don't carry out this oath may “more also” happen to me. At this point, the people step in with their own oath. “As the Lord lives, we will not allow one hair on his head to be harmed.” Their reason for rescuing Jonathan was that he had “worked” with God that day and given them victory over the Philistines. The King James says that Jonathan “wrought” with God, that is, he and God worked together to accomplish something in accordance with God's will. In this case the defeat of the Philistines. This is one of the great privileges of being a Christian. Sinners that we may be, yet God desires to use us to carry out His will. He gives us an opportunity to cooperate with Him as He carries on with the business of running the universe. We cooperate with Him and His will as we seek to live according to His Word and act on His promises. He longs for us to be co-workers with Him every day, as it says in Ro 12:1. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Be a Jonathan present your body to His service today and enjoy the privilege of working with God.