“Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.” 1 Samuel 23:16 (NLT)
King David was a godly man… not a perfect man, but according to the LORD, David was a man after God’s own heart.
David was a warrior.
David was a poet.
David was a musician.
David was a theologian.
David was a leader.
David was MANY things, but the one thing that David was not was an isolationist. Meaning, from all external appearances King David was a strong man but not to be missed in the story of King David is this:
EVEN STRONG PEOPLE NEED TO BE STRENTHENED
When David was in a rough place… that rough place being King Saul trying to kill him, Jonathan, son of King Saul knew his friend, David needed help, namely, he needed to be strengthened.
At great risk to his own life, Jonathan went looking for his friend, David in order to strengthen him… in order to remind him of God’s plans and purposes… ultimately, in order to help his friend, David, walk with God.
As way of reminder…
EVEN STRONG PEOPLE NEED TO BE STRENTHENED
To be honest, I’m not sure what would have become of David at this moment in his life if it were not for his friend, Jonathan. Thankfully, this is but just one example of how God uses horizontal friendships to strengthen our vertical friendship… our friendship with God.
As we ALL know, friendship is not easy. It takes time… lots and lots of time. Friendship often takes next level patience and grace because as we all know, friends don’t often act and behave in the most helpful of ways. Yes, friendship is costly because it involves the risk of being disappointed and discouraged. Simply put, friendship is super hard.
But you know what’s harder, dare I say impossible? Cultivating a meaningful friendship with God void of meaningful friendships with one another. God hard-wired us for relationship… relationship with Him and relationships with one another. And despite the many challenges associated with horizontal friendships, without them, walking with God will be really, really difficult.
Thankfully, you and I don’t have to walk the path of isolation.
Thankfully, there are places where we can gather together cultivate our horizontal friendships while being strengthened in our vertical friendships.
This Sunday, September 8th, GENESIS begins a new season of GROUPS and as you may have already surmised, GROUPS are all about strengthening our walk with God by walking together.
There are all sorts of reasons as to why not to be in a GROUP this upcoming season… but if I may, let me remind one more time of a lesson God’s Word reveals through the friendship of Jonathan and David.
EVEN STRONG PEOPLE NEED TO BE STRENTHENED
