The danger is close
I Samuel 20:22, “But if I say to the youth, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, for the LORD has sent you away.”
David and Jonathan, the son of King Saul, were close friends. We read in verse 17 that Jonathan loved David “as he loved his own life”; I suppose that’s why Jonathan was willing to risk his own neck for David’s sake when King Saul was searching for him. We see that David and Jonathan devised a scheme as to whether or not it was safe for David. Jonathan went out for “target practice”, and if he shot his arrows to the side of the target then it was safe, but if he overshot the target then David was in danger.
I see significance in this for a couple of reasons because David had to remain close to the danger in order to get the signal. In the same way we must stay close to the danger in this world so we can know the reassurance that Jesus gives us. One of my favorite promises of Jesus is found in John 16: 33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage ; I have overcome the world.” Jesus told us that we WOULD have trouble in this world, but He promised us that because of Him we also could have victory! I find that reassuring because He did not promise to take the danger away, but He would help us through the trouble. In His prayer for the disciples(and us) Jesus did not ask God to take them out of danger, but to protect them in the middle of it. John 17:15, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”
I Peter 5:8 tells us, “…Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The dangers around us are very close and present, but God will keep us safe in the middle of these dangers if we look to Jesus!
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Father God, I thank You for protecting me in the middle of dangers in this world, and I ask that You reassure me when fears overtake me. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Yes, You Can Ministry 