Friends and enemies

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 18:1-16, 19:1-7

“Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”–18:1.

“Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.”–18:12

The believer will always be a lightning rod.  Walk with Christ and people will feel threatened or intimidated by the implied lesson of your life.  Their reaction will not be pretty. Cain hated Abel.  The brothers hated Joseph.  Saul feared David and tried to kill him.  Long and sad reality in this dark world.

The sweet consolation is that you will also have friends.  True and loyal.  Strong and supportive.  As David walked with God, Jonathan became his forever ally.  Their souls were “knotted together” says the scripture.  A friendship stronger than the forces seeking to break them apart.

If I am to serve Christ, I must make my peace with this reality.  I will have enemies and critics and opponents.  I will also have friends.  God will see to it.

Author: Don Guthrie

Don Guthrie is the Senior Pastor at FBCSA.

2 thoughts on “Friends and enemies”

  1. Great topic. We see a dark world much more transparent when we walk with Christ. We will see how unfaithful and unholy people are. Critics and opponents are real when we do something that will benefit the common good but we will also have friends in this life.

    In reality, some will treat others, who walk faithful with Christ or who are considered a lightning rod, as their enemies and will make extra effort to damage or destroy them. God sees from above, is faithful to faithful believers and will provide true and loyal friends. We live among enemies to us, critics, opponents and friends on this earth.

    How those forces would affect our daily lives depending on how strong we walk with Christ and how we treat others, especially those who are different from us. These forces are real. How close we are with God will determine our inner peace and victory! True and loyal friends will be the strongest ally who we can depend at all times and for every need; enemies, critics and opponents will be of the past! I am convinced!

    Yes, I could not agree more, “If I am to serve Christ, I must make my peace with this reality. I will have enemies and critics and opponents. I will also have friends. God will see to it.”

    Friends are an important component of our lives. When the army of faithful friends is stronger than the army of enemies, unfair critics and opponents, we will experience peace and happiness. In this life, we will secure peace, joy and happiness if we believe and have faith in God and if we surround ourselves with steadfast, loyal family and friends.

    For believers, wherever and whenever there are enemies, unfair critics and opponents, there are faithful friends. God sees all and is just and will provide the faithful ones to work with God and to be our strongest allies! I am convinced!

  2. Just a thought! Has anyone thought that Satan may send friends to be among friends that God has chosen for us with the purpose to hurt us and to discredit God’s faithfulness to His believers? Will you be able to discern between God’s army of faithful friends and Satan’s army of unfaithful friends?

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