Spiritual Minute: Daily Devotional

Facebook has created a missed meaning of a word that for a longtime had a substantial determination on how we examined some of our relationships. You know what that words is? That word is friend. The Merriam Webster dictionary gave a definition of a friend as "one attached to another by affection or esteem". While it is used lightly, do you really know your friends? Not the 5,000 strangers on Facebook, but your real friends.

I read a story that said two friends were out hunting. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" To which he replied- "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" Okay, go ahead and laugh.

I thought about that as I revisited the scripture that talks about the friendship of David and Jonathan.

The account of I Samuel 13 begins with Israel's army hiding among the caves after they had been defeated in battle by the Philistines. Jonathan had a small fight and beat the Philistine. His daddy gets cock, puts an X on his chest, and decided he was going to take them all on. Saul's people knew that they were out matched and so instead of Saul waiting for the man of God to come and offer a sacrifice, he decide to offer one himself. He takes on a priestly position, yet he occupies a kingly role ( That will preach right there).

It was at that moment, God made a choice. The prophet told Saul "You have not kept the command of the LORD . . .your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart ( David)."

So now the fight is on. While Saul was hiding, the Philistines are raiding, and they took everything! The Bible says that only two swords remained among Saul's troops and they were Saul and Jonathan swords. The rest of the army had resorted to using farm tools for weapons.

In this defeated, depressed, and discouraging circumstance, Jonathan made a choice to search for God. Chapter 14, Jonathan decides I can't sit here and hide any longer and tells his armor bearer come on , let us go look for the LORD".

By Chapter 18, in the midst of seeking God, Jonathan finds a friend. Often times the company we keep can determines success or failure in our lives. Just because they are in your crowd, doesn't meant they are a part of your crew. We should all heed the biblical warning found in Proverbs 12:26, "The righteous use caution when choosing friends because the way of the wicked leads them astray."

Jonathan found David who shared a kindred spirit and they committed to a reciprocation of devotion to one another. If I was preaching this message, I would tell you to tap your neighbor and ask them, are you my friend?(LOL) The bible says in the book of Amos 3:3 - "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?". Many have resorted to friendship being that person that can hook you up. Others have made friendship about the who's who's list. But real friends are true to both who and what you are.

The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend. He said- "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends".

Jonathan, in spite of his father Saul's pursuit of David and attempts to kill him, he stood by his friend. What I love about David was that even after Jonathan was gone, he never forget his friends kindness. You may need to do a friend check and if you can't ask them, ask yourself. Are you my friend?

God helps us to identify those real and meaningful friendships you have ordained for us. Help us to prepare our hearts for those friendships that have not yet arrived, and the wisdom to know frenemies and those that should not have a place in our space. In Jesus Name - Amen

Selah