FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Week 3 Day 1

DEEP FAITH OPENS DOORS TO DEEP FRIENDSHIPS.

You know those people that seem to have it made?  Perhaps they go to your school or they or famous or professional athletes.  No matter, we seem to look at them in a different light.  We think we would trade our circumstances for their ANY day.  But we don’t know their story.

David, became King of Israel.  King!  Now, that is having it made.  Bossing people around, servants, an army to fight for you.  Sweet!  But if we dig into David’s background, his life story, not all is so pretty.

David was the youngest of 8 brothers and 2 sisters.  It’s probably safe to say that he was overlooked by his dad and looked down upon by his brothers.  He was the runt of the litter.  Bummer!

One day, God sent Samuel to David’s to choose the next king of Israel.  David was still a young teenager or so.   Jesse, David’s dad, lined up all his sons for consideration except for David.  He left him in the field to take care of the stinky sheep.  Wow, dad left him out of the picture.  Dad thought “No one would consider David!”

Another time, Dad would send David to take food to his brothers fighting in a battle.  When he arrived, the brothers were not happy to be getting a home cooked meal, instead they drilled David with questions.  “Why have you come down?  And who did you leave the sheep with?  You must be up to something evil.”    If I was his brother I would have told him where he could have put his hamburger!

David would later write in Psalm 27 “For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.”  Can you imagine feeling ignored, abandoned, forgotten by your parents.  Yet, that was part of the life story of David.  David allowed it to shape his faith in God. DEEP FAITH OPENS DOORS TO DEEP FRIENDSHIPS.

Prayer:  “Father, God, I love you.  Teach me to have a deep faith in you, no matter what my circumstances are.

Grab Your Bible:  Read 1 Samuel 16:18.

 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”

Even that a cruddy family background, David had a deep faith in God.  His faith was not just in words, but in actions.  David completely trusted in God even though he was looked ignored or despised in his own family.  Wow! What a  life story.  The most important thing about David was not that he was a king and had “all that.”  The most important thing about David was he trusted and honored God no matter what.  His life story and his struggles shaped his faith in God.

Others noticed!  Jonathan loved David as himself.  He was drawn to David’s heart that completely trusted God.  Their friendship would grow from there.  DEEP FAITH OPENS DOORS TO DEEP FRIENDSHIPS.

Prayer:  God give me a heart like David that chooses to trust in You no matter what.  I believe God, help my unbelief.  I can completely trust You.