Seize the Moment – Day 750
From Hero to Zero!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, April 6.
Have you ever experienced the pendulum swing of going from hero to zero? This happens a lot to leaders with the decisions they must make simply because, ultimately, someone must take responsibility and act decisively. Think of your favorite quarterback who in one play makes the decision that leads to a score and in the next quarter throws the interception that costs the team the game. But the best athletes, just like the best leaders, want to have the ball in their hands when it matters most.
Jonathan, the son of King Saul, was an amazing man of God and a decisive leader. He nearly went from war hero to a living sacrifice in 1 Samuel 14:43-45:
Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” Saul said, “May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Far from it! 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.
Jonathan had won a major battle without Saul’s knowledge that highlighted how foolish Saul’s oath was in verse 24: “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” If it wasn’t for the intervention of the fighting men who knew the full story of what Jonathan had done, then Saul would have murdered his own son. Unlike Jonathan, it was Saul was going from being a hero to a zero!
Seize the moment and find out the full story before you say or do anything foolish.