Closer Than A Brother ♡♡♡

I miss this beautiful soul xoxo

 "Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?" - 1 Samuel 19:4

I remember shortly after I got married, I was criticized  a few times when I celebrated my friendships openly. "Don't you know you are married now?" Yes, dear concerned person, getting married isn't something you forget so easily :).  Someone even asked me one time if I was happy in my marriage :) Fast forward years after that, some of those well watered relationships have carried hubby & I through some of the toughest seasons of our lives. And where were my critics at those times? Go figure. My marriage serves a purpose, and so also do my friendships. We can underestimate the beauty of true and real lasting friendships in our lives. Purposeful friendships do matter. Of course know your priorities & please keep idols away!! 

"Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die! Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" Jonathan asked his father" - 1 Samuel 20:30-32

What an amazing dear friend indeed. Jonathan took all of the jabs, and risked it all for his dear friend David. He called out unrighteousness for what it was. It never mattered who dished it out [if it meant confronting his own father, he was here for it] He was a trusted friend either when David was present or when he was absent. Jonathan had every reason to queue behind Saul who was after David's blood. He was next in line to the throne, and so it was to his own advantage that David be put down. Oh! the struggles that come with preserving family legacy. Jonathan stands up for what is right. Jonathan lays down all selfish ambition, and any kind of pride in his heart for God's will to be done in David's life. It is impossible to be a dear friend to everyone in the world, but God can find us a few and God can help us commit to being a Jonathan in thier lives. 

Another of such spark that comes to mind, will be the bond between Naomi & Ruth, but I digress :)

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" - Proverbs 18:24

You see, all of our relationships may not be perfect all of the time. There will be misgivings, misunderstandings, confusing situations and as expected will be required to work through conflicts. At the end of the day though, it's a choice what kind of friend you choose to be and the kind you want to have in your life. Years later, Mephiboseth, Jonathan's crippled son, who deserved to be wiped out for the sins of his grand father, becomes a great beneficiary of David's kindness and mercy. 

Do we queue behind the Godly through thier many trials and challenges? Do we help others get to where they need to be in God? How are we being "great & dear friends" to the people God has put on our path? Are we partnering with God to help His people fulfill His plans and purposes as it benefits His kingdom? In what ways can you and I be a better friend like Jonathan? I want to be a "dear close and trusted friend" like Jonathan, to the people God has placed on my path. What about you? If we help others get to where they are going, God will most certainly help us get where we are going. 

Dear Lord, help us to love others the way Jonathan loved David. Help us to love others the way you love us. Amen. A huge thanks to those who have been a Jonathan in my life. I can boast a few, so I thank God for you!

Love

SR