Monday, November 17, 2008

Go!

15While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.
1 Samuel 23:15-16

David still had one loyal friend, Jonathan (which means "Jehovah has given"). Remember, he was God's gift to young David, strategically placed in David's life at the very time David needed a genuine friend. From the beginning Jonathan loved David just as he was. David was a "nobody from nowhere" (shepherd boy, last one in line), but Jonathan saw something in David. Their friendship was born in the presence of God and in the love of God; it stood the test of time.

He hears that he is in the Wilderness and goes.

It's the start that stops most people.

Do you know a friend that's in trouble?

Have you done anything about it?

Jonathan didn't accidentally meet David; he didn't wait until he ran into him. He PLANNED to go and strengthen him. You don't just do it on the fly; you rise and go.

The mark of maturity is that you build into your life the intention and occasions to strengthen someone's hand in God; not in themselves, not their self-confidence, but in God.

David needed someone to point him to the rock that will protect us in all storms.

We all need a friend who will say something or do something that will cause us to depend on God and not ourselves.

We must have a radical God-centeredness in all we do, even in our friendship. It must be a friendship FOR Jesus, one that always points us back to Him!

Whose hand are you going to strengthen in God?

Do you have a friend like Jonathan who is committed to helping you fight?

Even when times are tough?

David had one.

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