Lord God, I praise You for speaking Your Word to me every day through Scrip-ture and faithful preaching. - P49
Help me to discern how to rightly use the giftsYou have blessed me with so that I can build up the body of Christ. In Hisname, amen. - P49
2 "Never!" Jonathan replied. "You are not going to die!
Look, my father doesn‘t do anything, great or small,
without letting me know. Why would he hide this fromme? It isn‘t so!" - P50
6 If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David ear-nestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, hishometown, because an annual sacrifice is being madethere for his whole clan.‘
7 If he says, ‘Very well,‘ then your servant is safe. Butif he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me.
- P51
David tells Jonathan that Saul is trying to kill him, but Jonathan does notbelieve him. David says he will hide during the New Moon feast and asksJonathan to tell Saul that he has gone to Bethlehem for the annual sacrifice.
If Saul loses his temper, this will prove that he is determined to kill David. - P51
Wisdom in CoDavid is desperate to find out why Saul is intent on killing him, butwith no safe means of approaching Saul directly, he relies on Jonathanto help him find out the truth. - P52
In situations of tense conflict, it is alwaysimportant to try to understand the other person‘s perspective. - P52
Different parties will have conflicting
interpretations of what happened, soopen and honest communication is vital. - P52
Where possible, we should godirectly to the person with whom we have a dispute. This avoids specu-lation and gossip that make matters worse. - P52
Among fellow believers, wecan do this with confidence, knowing that our relationship with thatperson is precious in the sight of God, and He desires for us to makepeace with those who belong to His family. - P52
In David and Jonathan, we see a beautiful example of self-sacrificingfriendship.
While both men have reason to be suspicious of the other,
they trust each other completely and form a bond of unbreakable loy-alty. - P52
In this age where people tend to prioritize their own interests overall others‘, such friendships are few and hard to come by. - P52
If we wantto build trusting relationships, we will have to take the risk of offeringsomeone our love and trust knowing that they may not reciprocate.
- P52
Though people might hurt us along the way, let us follow the exampleof Jesus, who did not seek after His own interests but sought to humblyserve others first. - P52
God has designed the gospel to be lived out in community for a reason.
He warned us in advance that in this broken world we wouldencounter trouble. - P53
But He has given us Himself and one anotherso our faith will not be destroyed. So, don‘t go into suffering alone.
- P53
Simply knowing that someone else is aware of your battle and fightsfor you in prayer is a great comfort. - P53
Jesus, I put my trust in You because You have never failed me and never will!
- P53
Help me to be a true friend to those who need to experience Your grace andtruth. In Your name, amen. - P53
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