Covenant Friendship
Do you have a best friend? What is your friendship like? Would you do anything for your friend? Would you keep your promises to your friend?
In the Bible there is a description of an intimate friendship between then soon to be King—David and King Saul’s son—Jonathan.
The first book of Samuel tells us, “Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.” (1 Samuel 18:3-4, ESV).
Sacrificial love defined the friendship between Jonathan and David. These two cared for each other more than they cared for themselves.
“Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’ And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.” (1 Samuel 20:42, ESV).
Like David and Jonathan, may we develop lifelong intimate friendships and lay down our lives for our friends in sacrificial love and service.
A Covenant Prayer, by John Wesley: “I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.” (#93., Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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