Fear is a natural human emotion, often triggered by uncertainties about the future, personal insecurities, or past experiences. The Israelites, for instance, felt fear when they saw themselves as grasshoppers before the giants in the land (Numbers 13:33). However, the Lord has much to say about not fearing! …
How do we cultivate and develop God-Ordained Relationships? …
The friendship between Jonathan and David is one of the most beautiful and profound relationships depicted in the Bible. What were the elements that made this relationship so special?
Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NKJV)
David and Jonathan’s relationship was more than mere friendship. It was a binding agreement of loyalty and support that reflected the will of God and the purpose of God that was prophesied over David.
The phrase “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David” signifies a deep love. This kind of friendship is rare, built on mutual respect, admiration, and a shared faith in God.
Nowadays, it is hard to find these kinds of friendships. It seems like many relationships are limited to a certain seasons of life or certain activities in life. Are you investing in friendships that nourish your soul and bring you closer to God? Are you giving to others as you are receiving from them?
David and Jonathan’s relationship had certain elements that made it successful:
Their Love was selfless
A relationship cannot just be about what is in it for me . Jonathan’s love for David was selfless, as he loved David “as his own soul.” This reflects the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). True friendship involves giving of ourselves.
A mutual understanding and agreement
David and Jonathan had made a covenant with each other. They must have had various conversations that brought them to actually make a commitment to each other to be steadfast in their relationship.
Sometimes, relationships don’t go well because two people have a different vision and expectation for the relationship, but they have never openly discussed those expectations. As a result, one person continues to be disappointed in the relationship, and the other one may not even realize that there is a problem.
Focused on God’s Purpose
Jonathan giving David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt was symbolic. It represented Jonathan’s recognition of David’s future role and his willingness to support him even at great personal cost. How willing are we to honor and uplift our friends, even if it means making sacrifices? Sadly, many times, friendships tends to start out right but, eventually, comparison and competition by one or both people sets in that poisons the friendship.
Let’s examine our relationships based on the quality of mutual love, mutual benefit, and how the Lord leads us in the relationship.
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
God-ordained relationships are a blessing from the Lord! This is what David experienced in his relationship with Jonathan. …
When Elisha was faced with opposition, he prayed for his servant who was fearful of the opposition built up against them. Elisha prayed, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” This is a beautiful prayer to pray for ourselves and others when faced with opposition. Elisha wasn’t concerned because he saw in the spirit realm. …
How do you feel when you do the right thing but you are opposed? When you do the right thing but face opposition, it can be challenging. However, the Bible offers guidance and encouragement on how to handle such situations. The story of Elisha gives us inspiration. …
When finally Adam and Eve had to face the truth about their sin, they caved in weakness by blaming each other. This action resulted in the Lord pronouncing a punishment on them. …
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3: 8-13
Adam and Eve fell into sin, and now they have a problem. How are they going to face the Lord? Will Adam miss his appointment with the Lord since he walked with Him regularly? Will Adam try to avoid the issue altogether and act like everything is okay?
Well, Adam and Eve tried to hide from God. That was not a good decision. Since Adam and the Lord had such a good relationship, he should have taken the step of telling Him the truth. The reality is that you can’t hide anything from the Lord. He knows everything.
Hiding from the truth is never a good idea. We can’t cover things up, ignore, or dismiss them and think that they will go away on their own. Just like our relationships with others require communication, honesty, and vulnerability, we need to have a similar relationship with the Lord. We need to address any breakdowns in the relationship and work on restoring it rather than ignoring it.
Praise God that the Lord came to find Adam and Eve. He is the seeker and the initiator of the relationship, and we get to respond to Him.
When the Lord confronted Adam, Adam said that he hid himself because he was naked. I wonder when Adam realized that he was naked. It was probably soon after they sinned. Sin is an open door to shame and feeling not good enough.
Isn’t it amazing that when we are tempted to sin, the enemy tempts us with all the things we get to enjoy and have if we give in to sin? However, on the other side of sin, he is waiting to make us feel ashamed and not good enough anymore. Interestingly, the Lord asked who told them about their nakedness. You see, God had seen them naked all along and did not think anything of it. It wasn’t that they were naked that made them feel ashamed but the fact that they had caught the virus of sin that made them operate with the lens of shame and guilt in how they saw themselves and others.
In the past, Adam and Eve saw everything as good, and they were secure in their relationships with God, themselves, and each other. Now, they had received the knowledge of evil that they did not have before. Their lens changed. Because their relationship with the Lord died, their security began to shift to their environment and the natural things they could see and touch. They began to depend on how they could change or improve themselves or what others could do for them.
Are there areas that you feel not good enough, ashamed, or guilty? What doors have been opened that need to be closed? Is there anything you need to talk to the Lord and face the facts about?
Image by Alberto Adán from Pixabay
Adam and Eve were tempted and fell into sin with the natural things in the world, and we can learn valuable lessons from their lives on what not to do.
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