Who Is Missing
Then Saul said to the men who were with him, Muster the forces and see who has left us. When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.
1 Samuel 14:17 (NIV)
Saul ordered troops counted seeing who missed: Jonathan and armor-bearers were absent. Roll calls' purpose discovers heroes. While Saul counted, Jonathan conquered. Reports reveal glorious absences. Misses are not always flights; sometimes feats. Counting heads discovers hearts.
Count and see: leadership verifying before presuming. Saul did right for wrong reasons — hunting culprits, finding heroes. Inventories' purpose cares, never hunts. Good calls find Jonathans; bad ones produce Zibas. Count your people celebrating, never suspecting. Numbers with love become names.
Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there: two against Philistine armies. Absences shaming standing crowds. Few's daring purpose awakens many. God wins with courageous minorities. Two with God outweigh battalions without Him. Your crowd absences may be battle presences.
Today, call rolls lovingly: who misses? By flight or feat? Celebrate absent Jonathans rescuing discouraged ones. And be glorious absentees: leave audiences for battles. Your daring's purpose inspires armies. Heroic misses enter Scriptures.
And count lovingly: faithful calls discover heroes. Count lovingly today. Faithful calls discover. Name absentees. Seek lost. Praise brave. Praise brave and restore fallen. Encourage faint. Visit missing. Rejoice. Celebrate. Celebrate heroes and welcome back wanderers. Feast gladly. Sing praise.