Friends come and go in one’s life. Today I am thankful for friends. My very first friend, she was four-years-old and I was seven-years-old. She lived around the corner from me in Dodge City Kansas. Trudy and I played dolls, trucks, rode our bikes and we laughed. We saw each other three years ago and nothing had changed our friendship was still in place. But one day, I received a message that she had passed away.
I am so thankful for that sweet reunion I had with Trudy. Friends are a gift from God. I am thankful today for the many friends. Examples of friends in the Bible would be Mary and Elizabeth, Mary and Martha, but I think David and Jonathan are the friends I will focus on today. Jonathan is the son of Saul the King of Israel. He really could resent David because David is the one to be crowned King instead of him. We read that Jonathan loved David.
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 1 Samuel 18:1
I love the description their souls were knit together. He honors Jonathan such that when Jonathan’s killed he looks up his descendant and honors him.
Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” The king said,“Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Zibasaid to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.” So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.” 2 Samuel 9:2-4
Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet. 2 Samuel 9: 12-13
Besides my first friend I have a friend we have been friends for forty years. Originally, we worked together, we watched each other’s, children and then we gave bridal showers and helped with weddings. We dieted together and went to church together. We were in Bible Study Fellowship in leadership together. If I need specific prayer, I call Jennifer.
I’ve online friends and I have many other friends and you know who you are.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for hisfriends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.…
John 15:12-14
Father God, thank you for the blessing of friendship. Thank you that you gave us the example of David and Jonathan as friends. Thank you for the art of friendship. Help me to be a better friend. David and Jonathan would’ve given their lives for each other. Let me be sacrificial in my friendships. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
What do you need to do to be a better friend? Is there a friend God is asking you to reach out?
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