Daily Devotional: Friday, Oct 30

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Friendship Reality

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Happy Day by Tim Hughes; Cannons by Phil Wickham; Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman; Came to my Rescue by Hillsong United.

Read: I Samuel 18: 1-4

Proverbs Challenge Chapter of the Day: Proverbs 24

Think: Pastor Ben talked a little bit about the friendship of Jonathan and David last weekend. If we read the full account of each of these men in the Bible, we see a great story of Jonathan's incredible loyalty and love as a friend and brother to David.

When Jonathan met David, "there was an immediate bond of love between them." (1 Sam. 18:1).  This wasn't really what we'd expect because these guys grew up in two very different worlds. Jonathan was a prince, the son of King Saul and the future heir to the throne of Israel. David on the other hand was just a shepherd.  But Jonathan didn't let the obvious separations between the two of them stand in the way of what became a life-changing and history-making friendship. 

When David was being pursued by the jealous and irrational King Saul, Jonathan (Saul's own son!) risked great danger to stand with him. Jonathan pledged his loyalty to David and warned him of his father's intention to kill him (1 Samuel 20:31-42). Later, when Saul pursued David into the wilderness, Jonathan "arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God" (23:16).

Jonathan was able to be an amazing, steadfast friend because he was first dedicated to living according to God's will. And he trusted God's plan and purpose for his own life and legacy. It's pretty rare to find a friend like Jonathan... Someone able to put his/her own interests aside and to see us beyond the surface. Someone dedicated to us even when it might be difficult... Because Jonathan was that kind of friend, he was used by God to change history and has been a model for people throughout the ages of what a real friend looks like.   

Do: What part of Jonanthan's example do you need to make a part of your friendships? What's different if you try to see them as God sees them?

Pray: Dear God, please give me a Jonathan-like heart for my friends and really, all people that You put in my life. Give me the right attitudes and the ability to see them through Your eyes. In Jesus name, Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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