Craig Cooper

I have always been encouraged and challenged by the story of D.L. Moody, who lived in the latter half of the 1800s. His formal education ended after fifth grade. At seventeen, he left his home to pursue employment in Boston. After failing to secure a job, he asked his uncle to hire him, who reluctantly brought him on as a shoe salesman at his retail shoe store. One condition of Moody’s hiring was that he would attend church.

Moody began attending a Sunday School class at the Mt. Vernon Congregational Church. One day Moody’s Sunday School teacher visited him at work, where he shared the message of salvation in Christ with him, and shortly after that, Moody received Christ as Savior and Lord. He devoted his life to serving the Savior.

A year later, Moody moved to Chicago, dreaming of making his fortune in the shoe business. He had much success in selling shoes. He developed a burden to provide a Sunday School class for Chicago’s children and the local Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). At the YMCA, Moody served as a janitor and wherever else needed. Although they could not pay him, they recommended he stay as a city missionary.

The Sunday School class Moody began and led flourished and grew into a church, where he became the pastor. The church remains today (The Moody Church). Moody continued to stay connected to the YMCA. During the Civil War, he began an outreach to the soldiers stationed at Camp Douglas, established outside Chicago. Moody ministered on battlefields and throughout the city, state, and country to thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers throughout the war. All the while, he maintained the mission Sunday School. After the war, Moody led revival meetings in the US, England, and Ireland. He’s credited with founding numerous ministries, missions, and schools, such as the historical Moody Bible Institute.

Moody’s story is that of an undereducated man who became a successful shoe salesman and is remembered as an evangelist, teacher, urban ministry pioneer, and founder of Moody Bible Institute and its original ministries. Moody once said of another unlikely servant in the hands of God, “Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody; forty years learning he was nobody; and forty years discovering what God can do with nobody.”

Whenever you wonder if God can use you to make a kingdom impact remember, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Believers can rejoice in God’s empowering presence as they place themselves in His capable hands. The goal is not to become another Moody. The goal is to walk with the Lord, knowing Him and making Him known as He manifests His love and message through you. The goal is to be an everyday missionary in the places where we live, go to work or school, and play. Further, in Christ’s power and leading, we can flourish in Him, experiencing all He will do in and through us for His glory, our blessing, and the betterment of others. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Jehovah Shalom is one of the 32 names of God found in the Old Testament. It means the Lord is peace. Jehovah is the Latinized version of the Hebrew name of God, Yahweh. Shalom is a Hebrew word for peace, which appears more than 200 times in the Old Testament. The root meaning is “to be whole.” Shalom may suggest either a personal, internal peace in the heart of an individual or an external peace between people and nations. In a personal sense, it’s a peace that gives us victory no matter how hard our personal lives become or how difficult the circumstances we face. Shalom “puts our minds at ease” despite the stress, anxiety, tension, pressures, or worries that may come our way.

In the Old Testament book of Judges, we discover an account where God is called Jehovah Shalom. Judges records events that occurred within the 250 years after Joshua, Moses’ successor, died. After Joshua’s death, the Israelites lost momentum in driving out the inhabitants of the Promised Land. The Lord warned that this would lead Israel into a downward spiral. This is precisely what happens as the Israelites begin worshipping idols, suffering punishment by attackers, crying to God for help, and receiving God’s aid in the form of a human judge (or “deliverer”) who restores order. In short, Israel goes through cycles of sin, suffering, and salvation.

One of the Judges is Gedeon, who lived when the Midianites were causing havoc on the Israelites. We read of an account of an angel of the Lord appearing to Gideon in Judges 6. Notably, Gideon was beating wheat in a winepress (Judges 6:11). Nothing is mentioned in Scripture casually. Gideon is in a winepress because he fears his enemies, the Midianites. Gideon is like a child fearing bullies will steal his lunch. Keep in mind that fear and faith cannot coexist in equal measures. Where fear increases, faith diminishes, and where faith increases, fear diminishes. One always gives way to the other.

The Lord calls Gideon to deliver Israel as He also works Gideon through his doubts about God and himself (Judges 6:12-21). Fear has dominated Gideon, and he cannot comprehend the angel’s greeting or God’s call on his life. Gideon’s fear has distorted his view of God, his current situation, as well as what God can do in and through his life. It’s apparent in the account that Gideon has the strength to save Israel but must appropriate it through faith. Faith activates the Lord’s provisions in and through our life. Again, faith and fear cannot coexist in equal measures. One must give way to the other. Gideon has to come to the realization that his strength lies in his being chosen by God and in God’s promise to be with him. The Lord encourages Gideon. He declares, “I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16). What is unthinkable on my own is unstoppable with God!

As Gideon accepts his call, we read, “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites” (Judges 6:24). Gideon declares, “The Lord is Peace.” Peace is part of the character of God. God revealed himself as the Lord of Peace to Gideon. We discover Gideon in a time lacking peace where the Midianites are bringing havoc on Israel. Gideon does not have personal peace, as we find by his hiding and possessing such a poor view of himself. But, when he encounters the Lord, he receives genuine peace. Gideon still lives in this fallen world, but he gains a heavenly perspective and a touch of the peace of our eternal God. Genuine peace is found in and only in the Lord.

It becomes clear through the New Testament that Jesus is the source and giver of shalom, of peace. Peace is grounded and rooted in Jesus, God the Son, Prince of Peace (Romans 1:7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35, 37; 2:1). Jesus, as “Prince of Peace,” is the giver of (shalom) “peace.” Jesus brings both world peace and personal peace. One is still to come, and the other is available here and now. The ultimate fulfillment of this “shalom” peace will occur when Christ returns, but a foretaste can be experienced in the inner life of a believer today. It’s been said, “No Jesus; no peace. Know Jesus; know peace. This is so true. The peace of God will reign in the lives of those who choose Him, Jehovah Shalom. The Lord is our peace. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

One of the thirty-two names of God found in the Old Testament is Jehovah M’Kaddesh (the Lord who sanctifies). “Jehovah” is a Latinized version of the Hebrew word Yahweh. We discover Jehovah M’Kaddesh in Leviticus 20:8, “Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”

The context of this verse is better understood by noting that the previous chapters, Leviticus 18-19, outlawed certain evil practices. Chapter 20 states the penalties imposed on those who broke God’s law. The same Lord who declared the precepts also declared the penalties. These laws were meant for the people of Israel, God’s covenant people. This law was the law of the land. God gave these laws to retrain sin, not necessarily to reform sinners. The penalties imposed were for the purpose of upholding His law, not improving offenders. This by no means calls believers today to seek equal penalties for the offenses mentioned. However, believers ought to strive to ensure that justice is served justly. We do this while remembering that the main call upon followers of Christ is to make disciples, and our primary tools are Scripture, prayer, love, and testimony (Acts 6:4, John 13:35, Revelation 12:11).

Leviticus 20:1-5 speak out against child sacrifice. It addresses the heinous act of worshipping Molech. His metal image was heated red hot, and little children were placed in his arms and burned to death (see 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronronicles 33:6; Jeremiah 32:35). People who practiced such idolatry were vile, and their presence in the camp of Israel defiled God’s sanctuary and profaned His holy name. Idolaters were not tolerated because they influenced others, leading people away from worshipping the true God. Verse 6 addresses seeking out fortunetellers. Who doesn’t want to know what the future holds? We often look to others for guidance. God warns against looking to the occult for advice because, among other things, they are either fakes or in contact with evil spirits. Either way, they’re dangerous. Here’s the good news, God has given us the Bible to acquire the information we need to live the abundant life offered to us in Christ.

Then we read, “Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Leviticus 20:7-8). Even amidst this list of capital crimes, God graciously offers encouragement to live morally, which is motivated by His own holiness and made possible by His workings in our lives. It’s important to remember that the motivation behind every aspect of Israel’s laws was that the people would demonstrate their distinctiveness from the nations. Israel was chosen to be a light unto the nations.

Holiness is not presented as something merely achieved by human effort but as a state created and given by the power of God. God’s people are called to maintain the holiness He has already conferred on them through His grace and redemptive work. The call is to live differently because God has made them different; therefore, be what you are.

God is Jehovah M’Kaddesh, the Lord who sanctifies you; He is the Lord who sanctifies. Sanctification is the cooperative work of God and believers by which ongoing transformation into greater Christlikeness occurs (2 Corinthians 3:18). When we turn in repentance and faith to look at Christ through the mirror of God’s Word, we are graciously transformed more and more fully into His image by the Holy Spirit. God operates in the life of Christians (Philippians 2:12-13) by, for instance, convicting them of sin and empowering them by the Holy Spirit. At the same time, they engage in spiritual disciplines such as reading and applying Scripture, praying, dealing rightly with sin, and yielding to the Spirit. Such maturing transpires particularly through the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18); Galatians 5:16-23) and the Word of God (John 17:17).

Therefore, we can think of sanctification as the salvific work of our Lord today in the life of a believer, where they are becoming practically what Christ bought for them positionally on the cross, a work that will be completed when we see Christ face to face. Through faith in Christ, I have shared in His death on the cross. As before I lived under sin, I now live in Him. This life comes from that faith in which I share not just His crucifixion but also His resurrection. I am in Christ.

I pose three responses to our Lord who sanctifies. First, receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Secondly, believe that God makes His Spirit and holy character available to all who enter into a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ, while I earnestly desire this work and trust in His workings in and through me by faith. Thirdly, by the power of the Holy Spirit, grow in Christ by applying His grace rigorously to every area of life because grace must continually be appropriated through a life of faith. The “Means of grace” are the spiritual disciplines that promote growth in grace when engaged. The means of grace do not work automatically; they are instruments through which we receive grace, not machines that produce grace. God gives grace, but to grow in it, we must appropriate it.

It is no small thing that the Lord makes His sanctifying work available to us. Jesus prayed that His disciples (past, present, future) would be sanctified, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). There are three questions we need to consider. How will I respond to the Scriptures teaching on God’s work and willingness to sanctify us? Do I hunger in my spirit for more of God’s holiness? Am I willing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to grow in greater Christlikeness? Past and present, multitudes of Christians bear witness that when they put their faith in the promises of Scriptures, received Christ as Savior and Lord, and filled with His Spirit, our Lord cleansed them of sin; He sanctified them. I echo these words of Paul over us, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Soli Deo Gloria (God Alone Be The Glory)!

In the Old Testament, there are up to 32 names for God, each having its own meaning. Each title can be understood as descriptive, a way to know more about God. It’s important to remember that God is supreme and beyond our complete comprehension, but He can be known and trusted. Some of God’s revealed qualities are mighty, creator, Lord, provider, and healer. The simple truth is that God is addressed by many names because He desires us to know Him personally and genuinely believe in Him. As we get closer to Him, through the study of Scripture, we gain a glimpse of His awesomeness. As we look at several of the names of God, we begin to get an idea of some of His attributes, presenting us with the opportunity to draw closer to Him. One of the names of God is Jehovah Tsidkenu, which means the Lord is our righteousness. Jehovah is the Latinized version of the Hebrew Yahweh.

We find the name Jehovah Tsidkenu in Jeremiah. We read, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6). God presents Jeremiah with this glimpse of a coming king at the time he needed it.

The context of this passage is that the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, brought a mighty siege upon Jerusalem. Zedekiah was king, watching the nation disintegrate before his eyes. The kings that had come before Zedekiah had left a legacy of hopelessness. King Zedekiah did little, if anything to change this trajectory. Jeremiah was amidst a devastating time in his life and the lives of God’s chosen people.

How could he bear such lousy news and crushing events? In such times it’s important to remember that when darkness falls around our lives when burn-out and spiritual fatigue threatens to obscure all hope, God is present and working, even when we’re unaware or see it. Take, for instance, this event in Jeremiah’s life where God shows up and gives the prophet his finest vision. God provides Jeremiah the ability to look through a long, dark tunnel into the light of a new age. Jeremiah is prophesying about the expected Messiah. His name is Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness. The name indicates that our Lord, Jesus, is the model ruler and shepherd of His people. For all Jeremiah’s love for his rebellious country, for all his thankless ministry, he is given the refreshment of seeing God fulfill His own intention of being King of His people.

We discover in Jeremiah 33, “In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness'” (Jeremiah 33:16). Here is an interesting turn of events. Under King Zedekiah’s leadership, Judah was allowed to continue to rebel against God. The result was that his revolt against the Babylonians led Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC to siege Jerusalem for a second time, which culminated in the destruction of the city and first temple, bringing an end to the Kingdom of Judah. However, God’s people are not without hope. God will reaffirm His covenant with His people. Jerusalem is to be given a name directly connected to the name given to the Messiah in Jeremiah 23:6 (Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness). This indicates the unity that will be established between God and His people.

It must have been astonishing for Jeremiah to entertain the idea that one person’s righteousness could restore a race of humanity that had lost theirs – this person would come from the throne of David and execute judgment in such a way that He could actually become righteousness for us in a substitutionary way. The Bible’s standard of human righteousness is God’s own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behavior, and every word. When we look at Scripture, we discover that God’s laws describe His character and serve as a monitor to detect human righteousness (yours and mine). The Bible describes the righteous person as just or right, holding to God and trusting in Him (Psalm 33:18-22). The problem is that there are no perfect people. The bad news is that true and perfect righteousness is impossible for any of us to attain on our own. The standard is higher than any of us have the capacity to reach.

Where is the hope? The hope is found in Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness. None of us have the ability to achieve righteousness in and of ourselves. But, through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the believer possesses the righteousness of Christ. We read in 2 Corinthians, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus became a sin offering. Reconciliation between God and people (you and me) has taken place only because God, through Jesus, has removed our sin and its eternal consequences. In His death, He took the punishment for our sin (“the wages of sin is death” – Rom 6:23a) so that we might be forgiven (“the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Rom 6:23b) and the “righteousness” of God might become a reality in our lives.

No matter how hopeless life may seem, Christ, our Righteousness is our hope. No matter how dismal a situation may seem, Christ, our Righteousness, is the one who provides a way. No matter what you have done, Christ our Righteousness has the power to make us righteous in Him. Here is the gospel truth. Events and people do not get the final word, Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness, gets the final word, and He offers us His righteousness, hope, and abundant life eternal with Him. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

While we celebrate Independence Day, commemorating the Declaration of Independence, I am reminded of those who fought to provide freedom for all Americans. Included in those freedoms is the First Amendment, which among other things, protects freedom of speech. As we’ve been exploring how to “fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12), which consists of staying faithful to Jesus despite trials, tribulations, and difficulties by holding fast to God, battling against temptation, and striving to love God and others, I remember our Savior who gave His life that we would have access through Him to have ultimate freedom. In Christ, we have been offered abundant life everlasting. I am mindful of the brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before us, laying the foundation, sometimes with their very lives, to pave the way for the gospel to come to you and me. One aspect of the believer’s ultimate freedom in the Lord is the privilege of prayer, which Christians throughout the ages have modeled.

As a citizen of our country, I want to exercise my freedom of speech. But, more so, as a believer, I want to exercise my freedom to pray. As we examine how to fight the good fight, we have come to realize that firstly, we fight the good fight by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit (see: Zechariah 4:6). Our salvation and sanctification (becoming more like Christ in character, love, and on mission with Him) is made a reality in us through coming to the Lord and cooperating with His Spirit’s workings in and through our lives. Secondly, we fight the good fight by remaining committed to Christ. The key is to place Christ at the center of our lives, giving Him control rather than trying to go it alone. Thirdly, we fight the good fight by being sustained by God’s Word. As we surrender to the Spirit’s workings and leading in our lives, He uses Scripture to form us into the image of Christ in our thinking and actions (Romans 12:2). Then, fourthly, we fight the good fight by being sustained by prayer.

James teaches, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). A believer who has been made right with God through Jesus Christ, through prayer, prevails in much. For instance, prayer helps us grow closer to God. Prayer helps us align with God’s will. It gives us strength, hope, peace, comfort, wisdom, and guidance. Further, prayer increases our faith as we experience the Lord’s power, miraculous workings, and breakthroughs. The faithful missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, wrote, “When you work, you work. But when you pray, God works.”

How does prayer work? Or, how does God work as we pray? First, we need to understand that prayer is a conversation with God. Therefore, prayer occurs whenever we speak to God through thought or voice. It’s not a monotonous monologue but a dynamic dialogue. God is always listening and willing to lead and talk to us, which primarily occurs through His Spirit using Scripture. Prayer is inviting God to be a part of our lives by opening our hearts and minds to Him. In short, prayer is direct communication with the Lord. In prayer, we declare our commitment to the Lord, praise Him, offer thanksgiving for who He is and what He’s done, commit our lives to Him, and ask Him to meet the needs of ourselves and others.

C.S. Lewis wrote, “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.” The privilege to pray has been offered to us by God. Through prayer, we can prevail in much. In fact, prayer sustains us. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

When we consider the account of David’s life, we are going to explore we must keep in mind that people don’t drift towards commitment but naturally drift away from commitment. It takes intentionality to stay focused. David did some great things in the service of the Lord, but even he found himself drifting away from commitment. David defeated Goliath, outlasted the madman Saul, and rose up the ranks to become a powerful and popular king of Israel. Life was good. But just when it seemed nothing could stand in his way to even greater success, there stood a beautiful temptation. While lions, bears, warriors, and angry kings had failed to derail David’s integrity, the sight of a beautiful, bathing woman soon had him falling fast.

The story of David and Bathsheba was the scandal that rocked the royal household. The man declared “a man after God’s own heart” was soon spiraling downward into an adulterous relationship as well as a murderous cover-up. Certainly, we’ll find that God’s grace covered David. But, ultimately, David’s sin cost more than it’s worth. We discover that temptation will always promise you more than it can deliver and will cost you more than you can pay.

In 2 Samuel 11:1-4, we realize that David stays home when “kings go out to battle.” He sends Joab in his stead. One day, in the afternoon, he is lying in bed. He gets up, strolls on his roof, and sees a woman, Bathsheba, bathing. He finds out she is the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers, but that doesn’t stop him from summoning her and sleeping with her. We must be reminded that David is not a passionate teenager or man in his young twenties but a man of God who has reached middle age. He did not naively walk into sin but made some deliberate wrong choices that led to the temptation that he succumbed to and sinned.

What were David’s deliberate wrong choices? First, David arrogantly stayed home when he should have been on the battlefield. David had become more self-reliant than God-reliant. He made another poor choice when he was idle, lying in bed in the late afternoon. Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with resting, but what is David resting from. After all, he has stayed home from his work as king. He’s idle, and idleness often leads to no good.

Further, David was careless, allowing his eyes to wander. Let me be clear on this one. The problem was not that David saw Bathsheba. It was how intently he looked. Growing up in Florida, I spent much time at the beach. My student pastor, Paul, would remind us that it’s the second glance that will get you. That’s great advice. Finally, David was selfish, giving freedom to his desires. He gave into the temptation, feeding his desires when he should have been focused on the Lord and disciplining himself. It’s not a sin to be tempted. He could have recalled Exodus 20:14, “You shall not commit adultery.” He could have relied on God to give him the strength and wisdom to walk away. It’s too bad that the record of this godly man was marred forever by “The matter of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Kings 15:5).

Here’s the long short of it. Bathsheba becomes pregnant. Instead of going to the Lord for forgiveness, David sends for Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, and tries to trick him into going home and sleep with his wife. Uriah was a good man and did not fall into the trap. Consequently, sin, still growing in David’s life, took him to a very dark place. David decides to have Uriah murdered and then takes Bathsheba as his wife. When we continue in sin, we find that sin begets sin, leading to a horrific downward spiral.

We’re unsure of the exact time frame, but nearly a year has passed. During this time, David had covered up his sins. As a result, he became physically weak and sick and lost his joy, witness, and God’s power in his life. God gave David plenty of time to make things right, but David persisted in hiding his sins. Finally, God sends Nathan, the prophet, with a message that breaks David’s hardened heart. Nathan tells David the consequences of David’s sin. It must be remembered that through God’s grace, we can be forgiven and delivered of the eternal consequences of sin, but we may and probably will face some earthly consequences. Sin is devastating and hurts not just the sinner but others as well.

David is contrite (broken-hearted over his sinful acts). In his brokenness, he repents. We have David’s prayer to God in the Psalms (Psalm 51). The psalm opens with an appeal to God for mercy. David knows that God is full of grace and kindness. His plea for mercy here is humble, based entirely on God’s mercy, genuinely recognizing that he doesn’t deserve it. David asks God to wash him clean. He owns up to his sin, asking God to make him right and for the Lord to empower him with His Spirit once more. As David is restored, he commits himself to be used by the Lord to help others return to God and be restored.

John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Believers come to Christ for salvation confessing their sins, initially to receive salvation and then to maintain fellowship with God and one another. Like David, if we need forgiveness and deliverance, all we need to do is be contrite, confess our sins to God, and ask God for forgiveness. And He will forgive!

Here is what we learn from David and the teaching of Scripture. First, don’t sin (1 Corinthians 10:13). Then, don’t remain in sin (1 John 1:9). We are offered freedom in Christ. God has promised us the power to live above temptation. He has also promised that we can find forgiveness and cleansing from our sins through His power and mercy. Only you and God know where you are on your journey, and only you and God know how He wants you to respond; your next step. Won’t you accept the example of David and respond as God leads? Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

God’s not indifferent to any one of us. He’s not just standing by watching us drown but offers us help in our dire predicament. Words such as “grace” (which speaks of undeserved love and acceptance received from another), “compassion” (which speaks of tenderhearted sympathy and kindness toward other people; a deep feeling of interest), and “mercy” (which speaks of compassion for the downtrodden) especially describes God’s character and His love for each and every one of us. These three words best describe God’s love for us and the love He desires for us to have toward others. In James, we read this about our Lord, “The Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11b).

I want to look at an example of love that happened thousands of years ago. It was in a time of kings and kingdoms. During this time, when one family lost rule to another, the losing family more than likely was put to death. We’re in Israel, and the King is Saul. He and his son Jonathan have just died in a battle. The news reached David, and he was grieved. However, the Lord had chosen him to be the next king.

So now David is King, and Saul’s family is scared. Not only has a man from another family become king, but Saul has gone against David and tried to kill him for no reason. It’s no wonder that Saul’s family feared David. Saul’s family was scared that David would put them to death. In this sense of panic, in an attempt to make a hasty escape, the nurse permanently injures Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson (2 Samuel 4:4).

Let’s fast forward a little bit. Now Mephibosheth is an adult with a severe disability. King David is overwhelmed with the blessings God has poured out on Him, and he remembers his former friendship with Jonathan. We read, “David said, ‘Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake’” (2 Samuel 9:1)? This is a case of compassion, mercy, and grace. This totally goes against the kingly code of the day. It’s an example of true love.

David finds a servant of Saul, the former king, Ziba, who tells David about Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:2-7). This is a remarkable account. When Mephibosheth was brought before the king, he must have been scared to death. He probably feared for his life, but instead, David, the man his grandfather tried to kill, offers him words of kindness. So you see, when the love of God is in a person’s heart, one desires to release others from fear, not to create it.

David had every right to put Mephibosheth to death but instead showed him kindness. But, listen to what David says to Mephibosheth, “You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table” (2 Samuel 9:10). Mephibosheth regularly ate at the king’s table. What an example of compassion, mercy, and grace.

To learn how to follow David’s example of showing such loving mercy, let’s look at Jesus’s example recorded in Matthew. We read, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Matthew writes much about the loving mercy of Jesus throughout his gospel. The leaders had failed in their responsibility of properly caring for those they were to lead. But these people weren’t unnoticed by Jesus. Jesus saw them. We have to see people to show loving mercy to them.

Then we read, “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’” (Matthew 9:37-38). Jesus’ disciples are urged to “pray earnestly” that the Lord would “send out laborers into the harvest.” The amazing thing is that many are ready to receive the good news of the kingdom. We’ve got to love them and pray for them.

The account continues, “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction” (Matthew 10:1). The Lord calls the disciples to Him as an initial answer to the prayer for the Lord to send workers. We’ve got to go to them to reach them. Prayer and obedience are genuinely needed to show loving mercy to people like the Lord. As we see the need, our hearts are given a greater capacity to love. As we love, we are drawn to pray. As we pray, we are empowered to go and reach those in need. What a simple example the Lord has left us to follow.

Think about it, Mephibosheth regularly ate at the king’s table. He is undeserving yet unconditionally loved. A day will come when all who are in Christ will be sitting at the table of the King of Kings. His love, compassion, mercy, and grace on that day will cover all our crippling needs. You see, God loves us unconditionally, and we can do the same for others through His power and leading. We are drawn to God by His kindness and love. Others will be drawn to accept salvation in Christ, God’s profound love for them, when they see His love and truth expressed in and through us. God’s mercy is seen by His providing us salvation in Christ, which is ours when we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. His mercy for each of us is seen in His desire to show it to others through His church.

After David defeated Goliath, he still had a rough ride leading up to his becoming king. First, he had to weather the wrath of Saul. David had, unbeknownst to him, upstaged Saul when he defeated Goliath. When David was elevated to hero Saul who was already insecure, went ballistic. David’s faith would be challenged, and He would have his low points, where he struggled to do the right thing. But, let’s face it, all of us, like David, are not perfect. God knows this is true. Every day a war rages in our souls, a power struggle that pits our will against God’s plan, a power struggle that’s part of the human condition. One of the workings of God’s Spirit within the believer is that when we wrestle through our fears and doubts, we learn to trust the Lord, leading to His will becoming our will.

We discover in 1 Samuel 18:20-27 that King Saul is such a despicable man that he devises a plan to use his own daughter to destroy David. Saul waves the typical bride price, usually money, and tells David he can display his valor instead. The king tells David he will accept the foreskins from 200 of the “uncircumcised” Philistines as the dowry. He mistakenly wagers that the Philistines, who would not willingly give up their foreskins, would kill David. However, David succeeds and delivers the requested bride price and continues to have success after success on the battlefield (1 Samuel 18:30). It must have seemed to David that he was on the fast track to becoming king. Still, a major road hazard was just around the corner. Saul, led by horrendous jealousy, tries to kill David with a spear, causing David to flee (1 Samuel 19:8-10). Thus, begins a nearly 7-year period where David is a fugitive.

David was a man on the run. At night he had to hide in tight places with a rock for a pillow. He had to go without seeing his family and the satisfaction of eating any home-cooked meals. His only friends were rejected from the army and society, and a real army pursued him. He could never stay in one place for long. He was always on the move.

Once Saul is encamped with five times as many as David’s men, which suggests Saul’s paranoia. David refuses to kill Saul but cuts off a corner from Saul’s robe, which symbolizes Saul’s royal authority (1 Samuel 24:1–7). David respects Saul’s position as God’s anointed king, even though he (David) had been anointed as the next king. In fact, David declares, “May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you” (1 Samuel 24:12). David believes that Saul should be punished for his wrongdoing, but he is willing to let the Lord avenge him.

Things get so bad for David that he finds refuge by joining forces with the Philistines, Israel’s sworn enemy (1 Samuel 27:1). Consider it: David and his ragtag crew gain some safety and stability by living among the Philistines, though they avoid attacking Israel. Eventually, Saul and his son Jonathan die in a battle against the Philistines, and David is made king of Israel (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

I believe when we look at this period of David’s life, we discover something worth emulating. David was a man on the run, who was running from Saul, but to the Lord. We learn from David’s time on the run that we must place our trust in the Lord when facing challenging situations.

It’s easy to look at such an account and think, why would God let such a horrific season in the life of David, “a man after His own heart?” However, I would remind us that God not only allowed but sent His own Son to die for us, to be beaten beyond recognition and crucified in our stead. Why? God did this to fulfill His salvific purposes, out of love, offering us everlasting life and an opportunity to become part of His forever family by accepting Christ as Savior and Lord.

Through his account in Scripture, God teaches David and us a few indispensable lessons. First, we discover that God is working, even when we don’t see it. Secondly, we find that God is responsible for final justice and will deliver it in due time. Then, thirdly, we discover that David, nor any of us, can bring about God’s plan by our own strength or wisdom; we need to allow God to lead and, in partnership with Him (keeping in step with the Spirit), see His kingdom come and will be done.

The truth is that God has a remarkable plan for our lives in Him. This plan is worked out in a Fallen world; therefore, it’s fulfilled within the highs and lows in our lives, but God’s plan will prevail. Therefore, the best choice is to put our trust in the Lord, realizing He is faithful and true to His promises.

Life everlasting and eternity with Christ in paradise is a remarkable reward. However, when we enter into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we are offered much more in the here and now. We don’t come to Christ perfect, but there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We still deal with temptations, but in Christ, we have been given power over sin and the ability to be victorious over temptation (Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Life can be rough and complicated, but we are offered real peace (Romans 8:6; Philippians 4:6-7). Our enemy, culture, and own destructive leanings attempt to rob us of joy, but in Christ, we can have abundant life (John 10:10). We may feel alone and isolated by others, but believers have a new identity as children of the King, part of His forever family (1 Peter 2:9). We might be weak and weary, but the believer is granted the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit when we are weak (Ephesians 3:14-19). We might feel adrift, but our Lord gives wisdom to all who ask with a heart willing to obey (James 1:5). Finally, if the above list, which is not comprehensive, is not enough, the Lord has granted us every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). Therefore, facing challenging situations, and at all times, we must and can, like David, place our trust in the Lord. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Friendships are among the most cherished and yet complex relationships one has in their life. Research has suggested that an average person’s conventional friendship group consists of around 150 people, with five very close friends but larger numbers of people whom we keep in touch with less frequently. This figure is so consistent that scientists have suggested that larger numbers require too much brain effort to keep track of. This, of course, does not include many of your “friends” or “followers” on social media. One social influencer commented, “To be honest, I am not sure I keep in touch with as many as 150 people. As it is, I can’t seem to find enough time for my not-so-wide social circle – there are quite a number of phone calls, emails, and texts I owe my friends.” I perceive these stats and observations as helpful but understand them to miss the point.

I believe it’s possible to have numerous superficial friendships and not have even one truly faithful one. This is a tragic reality since I would argue that one genuine friendship outweighs a 100 superficial ones. If genuine friendships are so worth having, the main question is, “How do we develop them?” We’ll answer this question by looking at the historic friendship between David and Jonathan.

Let me give some context. Jonathan was the son of King Saul. He was groomed for the throne from an early age. David was raised to be a shepherd. David and Jonathan came from two different worlds, but they became the best of friends. In fact, they became as close as brothers. Despite their differences, they found a deep bond in that they both had faith. Jonathan knew something about faith. Once, he took on an army’s outpost with only his armor bearer. Here’s the point, David and Jonathan had a type of faith that drew them together despite their differences. Jonathan’s accomplishments only take up a small portion of the Old Testament, but his friendship with David has been held up as a role model for all times – being a model of friendship.

Let me offer further context. Saul becomes jealous of David and has even attempted to kill David with a spear. Being friends with a guy whose dad throws spears at you is not easy. It would also be uncomfortable knowing that both of you are in competition to become king since Jonathan was the king’s son and David had been anointed the next king by the prophet Samuel. David and Jonathan obviously found something worth the risk, which makes their friendship worth an up-close-and-personal look. I believe we discover from David and Jonathan’s friendship that none of us needs to settle for merely surface friendships. It’s possible through commitment and courage to have a much deeper friendship. When two persons of faith connect in pursuit of God, the result can be one powerful connection.

A pivotal passage referring to David and Jonathan’s friendship occurs in 1 Samuel 18:1-4 where we are told that Jonathan “loved David as his own soul.” Remember that David and Jonathan were both likely very young men, possibly even teenagers. Jonathan was the first “prince” of Israel, and David was a shepherd boy. At first glance, this friendship seems too ideal to be true. How many people do you know who are close with such different backgrounds? How many friends do you have that you can say you are “one in spirit” or that you “love as yourself?” Indeed, David and Jonathan’s friendship is rare, but let’s look a little closer before we just write it off as unrealistic.

As we look into David and Jonathan’s friendship, we discover three friendship factors that we can use to take our friendships deeper. The first factor is connection. David and Jonathan

‘s connection was certainly not weak. Look at what happened when their friendship was tested. When King Saul went psycho and began trying to kill David, Jonathan tried to play peacemaker. When Saul continues to try to kill David, Jonathan helps him escape (1 Samuel 20:1-4, 17-20).

David and Jonathan had a “whatever you need” friendship. Jonathan pledged to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” The ideal friendship is a “whatever you need” friendship. I must ask myself, “Am I that type of friend.” Do I trust my friends enough to do “whatever they ask?” This type of connection does not occur without a true commitment between friends. In fact, you cannot have a connection without commitment.

The second friendship factor is commitment.

Seasons of life come and go. People typically bounce from one friend to another. But there’s a type of friendship that lasts in all things and through all things. Faith is the foundation of a rock-solid friendship. When two friends are committed to growing closer to God, they can grow closer to one another. That builds trust, and trust builds connection. Eleanor Roosevelt declared, “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”

Commitment is built upon trust, and trust is founded, among other things, on believing the best for another is the goal. This starkly contrasts with those who believe the goal is to always be first. The third factor is no competition. If anyone had a right to be in competition, it was David and Jonathan. David was anointed to be the next king, and Jonathan was being groomed to be the next king. Both could not be the next king. This situation would make most people feel insecure, but not David and Jonathan. However, we read the contrary in 1 Samuel 20:17-20. Jonathan does not try to get rid of David but saves his life. When you have a genuine friendship, you know that God gets the credit, and you don’t compete for personal glory. You know that God brings about the plan according to His purposes, and you don’t worry about who gets the honor. You’re working together for the same goal, spurring each other on to deeper faith and connecting in faith.

I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the most important friendship with the most faithful friend. Jesus declares in John 15:13-15 that “You are my friends,” and in doing so, implies a stunning level of comfortable personal interaction with One who is also the eternal, omnipotent Creator of the universe. In the Old Testament, only Abraham (2 Chron 20:7; Isa 41:8) and, by implication Moses (Exod 33:11) are called “friends of God.” In this passage, Jesus extends this privilege to all obedient believers. When we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, we also accept Him as a friend who will never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5).

Our friendship with Christ can even empower us to have a genuine friendship with others. When the friendship between two Believers has the friendship factors present, they will spur each other on to go deeper in their faith with God and, as a result, will have a deepened friendship. I hope and pray that each of us right now will see friendships as worth the risk and effort and seek to have them established in our life. Of most importance, I hope we all have received Christ as Lord and Savior, and yes, friend. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

As we celebrate Memorial Day, a day we remember those who paid the ultimate price, their life, to serve and protect our nation while serving in the military, it draws my attention to our Lord, who gave His life so that we can be saved (Romans 4:25). We discover these words in John, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). I’m grateful for every man and woman who gave their lives in service to our country and all the more for Jesus, whose death allows us to be a part of God’s forever family.

There’s a beautiful doxology found in the final couple of verses in the Book of Jude. A biblical doxology is a short segment of Scripture praising God and extolling His glory. Doxology means “word of glory.” We read, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24-25).

Jude ascribes all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority to God as he reminds us of what God is doing for us believers as we wait for Christ’s return. He clearly writes that there is only one God. Further, the one true God has acted redemptively as our Savior by dying in our place for our sins, delivering us the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). Jesus is the mediator through whom all who trust in Him can give praise to God.

The church, God’s forever family of believers, praises God through Christ by living for His glory while serving He who is more significant than all (majesty). Our God’s reign has no boundaries and rules over all of creation. Thus, Jude’s doxology acknowledges the praiseworthiness of God, who is as gracious as He is magnificent. This is our God who wondrously receives the praise of His people.

God is eternal, with no beginning or end, and at this very moment into the unforeseen future is our great and faithful King. He keeps believers secure. He keeps us blameless and from stumbling. This doesn’t speak of our present perfection, but God’s sustaining us as we’re being perfected, awaiting Christ’s return when the work within us will be finished (Philippians 1:6). This is who our God is, what He is currently doing as we await Christ’s return, and why it is so good to remember Him and His marvelous work.

I hope you have a great Memorial Day. Remember those who gave their lives so we can live free. Remember the One who gave His life so that we can live eternally free. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!