Bonding: What Does it Mean to be a REAL FRIEND?

Bonding: What it means to be a REAL FRIEND!
FRIENDSHIP is the rainbow between two hearts sharing seven colors: feelings, love, sadness, happiness, truth, faith, secret & respect.-Anonymous


Someone somewhere in the world felt like expressing the meaning of friendship. According to this anonymous quote, friendship is connected or bound by eight characteristics; feelings, love, sadness, truth, faith, shared secrets and respect. 

When a true frienship is melded or linked by these characteristics it is bound to stay together. In the word of God there are many types of relationships that are bound and linked by many negative and positive characteristics. In the book of First Samuel, David and Jonathan had a unique and special bond. As we look at the meaning of what it means to bond this month, David and Jonathan's relationship in the bible display a bond, bound by feelings, love, sadness, happiness, truth, faith, shared secrets, and respect.

Jonathan and David's relationship was odd in that both were to be successors to the same throne. Since Saul had been named king in the natural order of things Jonathan was next in line to be King. However according to the supernatural order of things, David was to be king.  The fact that God had ordained David to be king never hindered Jonathans faithfulness and loyalty to David and their friendship. In fact in 1 Samuel the 19th chapter Jonathan had a great opportunity to kill David to ensure his own kingship. But Jonathan recognized that he would be going against the Sovereign will of God. Hence we discover that Jonathan had faith in God's decision to demote his family from the throne and place David as king instead. Jonathan had faith that when David took the throne that all would be well.

Jonathan did not mind being second place. Jonathan was humble. He had humility.  When he had the opportunity to kill his friend, he was loyal. Real friends are faithful and loyal. Real friends trust God and respect God's Sovereign will for their own life as well as the lives of their friends. Real friends show humility and compassion towards one another.

When Saul shared his plans to kill David with Jonathan, Jonathan spoke on his behalf.  Jonathan also told David to hide so that he could speak on his friend's behalf. Jonathan was also an intercessor or mediator for his friend.  He did whatever he could to work things out for the best outcome for his friend. Real friends intercede or mediate on your behalf for things to work in your favor.

David and Jonathan were able to confide in each other. When David told Jonathan about his father's plans to kill him, Jonathan believed him. This means that there was a strong element of trust between Jonathan and David.  Jonathan trusted David till the point that he was prepared to help David in his situation. Real friends trust you and are trust worthy.

Jonathan promised to tell David whether or not Saul meant to kill him and to let him know whether he should continue to go on the run or stay. Jonathan was a man of his word. Real friends keep their word.

Jonathan and David's bond was so great that they made a pact between each other that would last past death.

"As God, the God of Israel, is my witness, by this time tomorrow I’ll get it out of my father how he feels about you. Then I’ll let you know what I learn. May God do his worst to me if I let you down! If my father still intends to kill you, I’ll tell you and get you out of here in one piece. And God be with you as he’s been with my father! If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend. And if I die, keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever. And when God finally rids the earth of David’s enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!” Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David. He loved David more than his own soul!1 Samuel 20:13-17

Jonathan's friendship to David extended beyond jealousy, hate, self gain, selfishness and lust for power. Jonathan respected David as the annointed of God. Even though he could have become familiar with David, he did not allow familiarity keep him from respecting David as God's chosen. Real friends respect the annointing in one's life.

It was a sad occasion when David and Jonathan departed. It was not easy to leave a season of shared happiness and transition into a season of sadness and separation. Real friends feel happiness and sadness together. Real friendships out last separation, tragedy and even death.

servant." 3 And the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?" Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet." 2 Samuel 9:3

After Jonathan's death, David kept his word to his friend by honoring his best friend's son, Mephibosheth.

And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, "Mephibosheth!" And he answered, "Behold, I am your servant." 7 And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always."
2 Samuel 9:4-7

Real friends keep their word even when it seems impossible. They will find a way to do whatever it is that they said.

Real friendships are bound by the very characteristics of God. Jonathan and David had Agape love for one another. Jonathan put his life on the line for David. When he stood up for David his father even tried to kill him, but he stood his ground. Real friends will endure with you in tough times.   Jonathan was obedient to the commandment that said that we should love our neighbor as we love our own selves.Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.  Jonathan and David endured all things, believed all things, hoped all things and bore all things!

Jonathan and David's friendship actually is a picture of Christ's love for us. Jesus laid down his life for all of us and endured all things for us. Real friends show Agape love towards one another.

The knots that bind Godly relationships include:

Love for God
Agape love for one another
Trust in each other
Faith in God's Sovereign will
Intercession/Mediation
Faithfulness and loyalty
Humility and compassion
Keeping one's word
Respecting the annointing on each other's lives
Experiencing happiness and sadness together
Outlasting separation
Imitating Christ's love for us

A rainbow in the word of God represents God's promise of Grace. God promised Noah that He would never destroy the earth again with water. God kept his promise and graced man with a second chance to experience His love and grace through Jesus Christ. This is not something that God had to do, but something that He chose to do because of His unconditional love for mankind. So be encouraged to form relationships with others that exemplify and show the love of Christ.  When it seems you can no longer endure the faults, troubles and trials of your friends, remember the cross and remember what it means to really have Agape love for others. The bond that brings all relationships close and closer is Agape love. 


Let yor day Be filled with the love of Christ!

Be Blessed!

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Humility: The key to Coping with the Changes of Life

Humility: The Key to Coping with the Changes of Life!

“Humility is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for all the possible changes of life. ”

George Arliss

According to Actor George Arliss, the one true wisdom, discretion, bit of knowledge, enlightenment, elucidation, light of understanding, and illumination one needs to cope with the various changes of life is to maintain a mindset of humility.

Whether it is a house going into foreclusure, not being able to pay rent, a car breaking down, a miscarriage, a lost loved one, losing a job, suffering from heart break, embarrasement, or hurt or betrayal from friends, co-worker or a loved one; changes in life can be abrupt interruptions that have a way of causing us to discover who we really are.

It is through being with out, suffering pain, and experiencing vulnerability that we discover what we are really and truly made of. It is when you are faced with choices that one sees where one's heart is once the decision has been made.  Will you curse God or Bless Him through it all? Will you choose to lie or tell the truth when under pressure at work?  Will you choose to sleep around for a promotion or trust God to elevate you? Will you choose to steal, sell drugs, look for a sugar daddy or mama to pay your bills or will you trust God? Will you cut corners, cut people down, or back stab your way into a position or let God work on your behalf?

At the end of the day the bottom line question is: Will you trust God? An humble person trusts God with everything. An humble person obeys the commandments and adheres to the voice of God.

When you are facing negative changes in your life, will you TRUST GOD?  When everything around you is dark and it seems as if there is no way out, will you TRUST GOD?  When you need more money to feed your family, will you TRUST GOD! True faith in God takes true humility. It's realizing that all that you are and this world is, God controls. When you trust God you have already come to the realization that you are NOT GOD. You do not know all of the things that God knows. You willl never sit as high or as low as He sits and because of that you will trust Him because at the end of the day God knows what is best for you.

Being able to live out faith in God shows true humility.
When you win the lottery, get a new appointment, job, promotion, get married, move into a new house or upscale neighborhood, and purchases a new car, what will be your response? Who are you really.  A wise person once said that it is not power that corrupts but it is the person who gains the power who is corrupt before they gain the power or even money.

When God elevates you will you Trust God! No matter how low or high Joseph was promoted or demoted His faith in God never wavered. Joseph's character was proven in His response to His brothers.

19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21


After all that Joseph had suffered he was still able to maintain a heart of forgiveness. Humility is the ability to maintain God-Like Character no matter what one is experiencing. It is the ability to maintain peace with God, peace in your mind and peace with others whether you have or have not.

Paul states it this way: 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me Philippians 4:11-13


After Paul gives us true examples of humility in the book of Philippians where he has highlighted the death of Jesus Christ, his servant and himself. Paul states that he knows how to be at peace in his mind whether he has more than enough or whether he is lacking. This is what true humility is composed of.

Humility is the ability to be able to treat everybody with the love of Christ regardless of the circumstances including how they treat you. 

Jesus never deserved the cross, Paul never deserved imprisonment and neither did Joseph. However their character never changed while experiencing these harsh situations. God used these situations to not only elevate these men, but to also display His glory and change lives. When you serve God, even while mistreated it is so that God will ultimately get the glory!

So be encouraged Saints! No matter what you experience in life God is using that situation to show you who you really are so that you can do the necessary work to allow God to reshape and mold your character into what He wants you to be so that He can get the glory and praise and lives canbe changed.  God can do His part as long as you make the choice to allow God to show you your flaws. An humble person is not afraid to recognize His or her flaws, confess them and repent.

In order to cope with the changes of life in a Godly manner one must maintain a stance of humility by keeping a realistic view of oneself. Stop spending so much time monitoring some one elses character growth with out first monitoring your own. When one monitors their own growth, one will maintain a spirit of humility. If today has enough evil in it for itself with out worrying for tomorrow, so do your own issues and character flaws each day! So by the time a person gets through working on their own flaws in one day, they really don't have time for anyone elses.

So Be Encouraged to handle the Changes of life by maintaining a Spirit of Humility by trusting God, focusing on your own character flaws, and treating others with love and respect.

LET YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST!


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Be Blessed!