Scripture
1 Samuel 23:16 “Jonathon went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.”
Observation
This scripture goes right along with the yesterday’s sermon. We are responsible to encourage others. Jonathon’s father Saul was out to kill David. Ironically Saul was trying to preserve Jonathon’s right to the throne. As Saul’s oldest son, he was next in line to be king but God had rejected Saul and anointing David as the next king. Saul was out to murder David and preserve his family’s right to the throne. Of all the people to encourage David, Jonathon seemed the most unlikely. Yet Jonathon and David had developed a deep friendship. They were “best friends.” When Jonathon saw that David was going through a difficult time, he went to his friend to help. Jonathon encouraged David to stay strong in his faith in God. Never forget that the battle is over your faith. Satan wants to discourage you and cause you to quit the faith, or to give up on God. You must stay strong in your faith.
Application
Don’t give up. Keep your faith in God. Hold onto hope. Things will get better. It will not always be as it is today. Keep the faith.
Watch over your faith. Cultivate your faith. Faith grows by hearing the Word of God. Stay in the Word. Read it. Meditate on it. Memorize it, but keep it in your mind and heart.
Look this week to encourage someone else. The best way to climb out of your valley is to help someone out of theirs. You both will be going up. Write a note. Make a call. Pay a visit. Put an arm around someone. Say an encouraging word. Do something. Who is there this week that you can encourage? Everyone needs a Jonathon and everybody can be a Jonathon. It just takes a little thought and effort.
Prayer
Father, help me to encourage someone this week. I want to take my eyes off myself and my problems and to be aware of the needs and hurts of others. I do not want to be self-centered by other-centered. Give me a word that someone needs to hear. Give me an opportunity to add value to people. Enable me to be a builder and not a person who tears others down.
I also ask that you keep guard on my faith. I choose to grow and cultivate my faith in you. I know you are faithful and your promises are true. I place my trust in you today.
