What does love require of me?

There’s a theme in the New Testament that we’ve neglected over the years and I’m not sure why. It’s the area of ‘one anothers’. Jesus made our sacrificial love for one another the ultimate measure of how we interact as a church community when he washed the disciples’ feet and told them to follow his example.

I don’t think he was making a rule of foot washing (although that would make Life Group interesting). Rather footwashing was the most humble and sacrificial way of serving someone else and putting their needs ahead of your own. The question that arises for us is, what ‘foot washing’ needs to be done for the people around you? As pastor and author, Andy Stanley often says, “what does love require of me?”

It’s in this light that I’ve reflected on the relationship of David and Jonathan this week. Over the years, I have found encouragement that when David was in a dark and difficult time he “found strength in the LORD his God” (1 Sam 30:6).

It’s something I’ve tried to emulate when I am in a dark and difficult time. But this week I’ve noticed something deeper. You see, it wasn’t the first time David had been distressed. Not long before, David was fleeing for his life and, “Jonathan went to David…and helped him find strength in God” (1 Sam 23:16).

Finding strength in God was something that Jonathan knew how to do and he showed David. In fact, he showed him so well that, from then on, David knew how to do it for himself. The Psalms are full of David’s songs about finding refuge with God. Could it be that the gift of this theme in the Psalms to us is the result of Jonthan’s service of David? Do we have more to thank Jonathan for than we’ve realised?

David and Jonathan’s relationship was rich and deep but we shouldn’t be surprised by this because it was a relationship forged in trials. I wonder how much richer church community will become as we seek to serve one another in and through times of distress. Who are the David’s in your world right now? Who are the followers of Jesus in your world who are struggling? How can you help them find strength in God? 

Much love,

Simon



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