Trust God, and Act!

‘Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf.’ 1 Samuel 14:6 NIV

During the early days of Saul’s kingship, the Philistines controlled much of Israel, and battle lines were drawn at the pass called Michmash. Saul seemed content to sit on the sidelines, but Jonathan wanted to be on the front line. ‘Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.’ (1 Samuel 14:1 NIV)

There was only Jonathan and his armour-bearer, so the odds didn’t look good. But when you make a move that is motivated by God’s glory, it moves the heart and hand of God. What it requires is a step of faith. And often it’s the longest, hardest and scariest step you’ve ever taken. Usually when Israel’s kings went into battle it was because they had received a word from the Lord assuring their victory. Jonathan had received no such word. He simply said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf.’ Most people operate out of the opposite mentality: ‘Perhaps the Lord won’t act on our behalf.’ They let fear dictate their decisions instead of faith. So, they end up with Saul, sitting on the sidelines.

And how did the battle turn out for Jonathan and his armour bearer? ‘So the Lord saved Israel that day.’ (1 Samuel 14:23 ESV) All it took was one daring decision! That’s all it ever takes. When you move, God will move on your behalf. And if you don’t move, you’ll always wonder ‘what if?’ Often our longest regrets are our inaction regrets—the things we would have, could have, or should have done but did not do. So, the word for you today is: trust God, and act! https://vision.org.au/the-word-for-today/

相信上帝，行动吧！

约拿单对拿兵器的少年人说：“我们不如过到未受割礼人的防营那里去，或者耶和华为我们施展能力；因为耶和华使人得胜，不在乎人多人少。” (撒母耳记上 14:6 和合本)

扫罗在位的初期，非利士人控制了以色列的大部分地区，并且在一个名叫密抹的关口布置了战线。扫罗似乎很满足于待在战线以外，但约拿单却希望去往前线。“我们不如过到那边，到非利士人的防营那里去。” (撒母耳记上 14:1 和合本)

所以，在前线就只有约拿单和帮他拿兵器的少年人，情况看起来不太好。但是，当你的行动是为着神的荣耀，它就会摇动神的心和手。你所需要的是迈出信心的那一步，而且它常常会是你所走过的最漫长、最艰难和最畏惧的一步。以色列诸王在出征的时候，会因耶和华应许他们而得胜。约拿单却没有得到这样的信息。他只是说，“或者耶和华为我们施展能力”。然而大多数人的行为却是出于完全相反的心态：“也许上帝不会为我们行事。” 他们让恐惧支配他们的决定，而不是信心。因此，他们最终与扫罗坐在一边。

那么，对于约拿单和帮他拿兵器的少年人，争战的结局怎样呢？“那日，耶和华使以色列人得胜” (撒母耳记上 14:23 和合本) 他们唯一付出的就是一个大胆的决定！就这么多。当你行动时，上帝会为你行动。如果你不行动，你就会一直想“如果这样怎么办？如果那样怎么办？” 我们最经常会有的遗憾就是我们不采取行动的遗憾——我们本可以做、能够做、也应该做，但却没有做的事情。所以，今天，你们要做的是：相信上帝，行动起来！

（段麦克 翻译）