Soldiers who have fought together will tell you that the relational bond they share with their fellow soldiers is incredibly strong. In fact, some veterans report that the friendships they share with fellow veterans, although different in character, are as important to them as the relationship they have with their spouse. This doesn’t minimize the importance of marriage, but points to the depth of friendships forged in the crucible of sacrifice.
This reflects the fullness of Jonathan and David’s friendship. They were fast friends who fought alongside one another on behalf of Israel. Because of this, their bond was unbreakable. When it became clear to Jonathan that his father wanted to kill David (1 Samuel 20:30-31), he risked his own life to protect his friend (1 Samuel 20:32-33).
This is all the more remarkable when one remembers that Jonathan was the heir to the throne of Israel, a position that was threatened by David’s rapid ascension (1 Samuel 20:30). Still, nothing could break Jonathan’s loyalty to his friend, not even the thought of losing the throne, because their friendship had been made even stronger by the fire of adversity.
Believers in Jesus share a powerful, loving friendship with Jesus, as He declared in John 15:15. Similar to the relationship between Jonathan and David, this is an unbreakable friendship that has been refined through hardship and sacrifice (Romans 3:25), so perfectly exemplified by Jesus’ death on the cross. So when we call Jesus our “friend,” this doesn’t mean someone we simply hang out with. No, as seen in the friendship between Jonathan and David, Jesus is a friend who gave His life for our own—One who will never leave our side.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 12:22-50
More:
Read Proverbs 18:19-24 to see how we can maintain godly and lasting friendships with other believers in Jesus.
Next:
What does it mean to you to have a friend in Jesus? How can you grow your friendships with believers in Jesus—seeking to sharpen and encourage one another?
Gary Shultz on July 8, 2016 at 6:17 am
Your observations are correct Peter, my son has deep bonds with those men who fought for their lives in battle. I can not fully appreciate or understand it, but the loyalty is strong. Regular life does not press lives together as theirs. I enjoy many friends, but the depth of commitment is an unusual quality to find. We are too busy in many cases. I often marvel at the girls, friendships look different and seem to fold together much easier. One thing for sure Jesus has more than enough qualities of a friend and is willing to stay with me through any situation. I’m sure as you, I have found such a friend in Jesus; however, we are still responsible to export that love to others in a way that reflects the love of Christ. I think we have some work to do. Thanks Peter.
lydiajoy22 on July 8, 2016 at 10:03 am
To have a friend in Jesus means that you have trust in Him in hard times and good times. It also means that you can go to Him for help when you are in a tough situation. You can tell Him “thank you!” for things that He has done for you in your life. I believe that you can build relationships with believers stronger by realizing that you are all one family and God is everyone’s father. You can also pray together because it’s like an image of children talking and thanking their father for all that he has done for them to help them through life.
godlove on July 8, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Lydia, you have summed up my thoughts exactly as to what having a perfect friend in Jesus means, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Not only is He our Friend but He is so much more than that. In Him we find peace such as no other friend can give us. As the hymn, What a Friend we have in Jesus says, “Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.” He is the One Friend to whom we can take all our sins and griefs, every needless pain, all our trials and temptations, all our sorrows and loads of care, because we know that in Him we will certainly find relief.
gagirllive on July 8, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Peter, your devotional today couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for me. I received a letter in today’s mail from a friend in reply to my own letter asking her for an explanation for her apparent distance. At one time we shared a closeness, and without reason to my understanding, she backed off. Her reply today only stated that she did not have the time and energy to invest in a friendship. She said I deserved more than she was willing to give. I won’t lie. I feel a sting of rejection, but your devo today has encouraged me and reminded me that I have the best friend ever in Jesus Christ. In a world where people treat each other as disposable plates, I know that Jesus will always be my constant and faithful Friend. The relationship between David and Jonathan is a great example of the kind of godly friendship that Christ can bring between believers. It speaks of love, loyalty, sacrifice, protection, and faithfulness. Scripture says that Jonathan loved David just as he loved his own soul. And though some have tried to pervert this, it even says that David’s love for Jonathan was greater than his love for women. They were true kindred-spirits. They had a covenant friendship. They were soul brothers. 🙂 Perhaps what they shared was an example—a “type” for us as we consider the friendship that we now have with God because of Christ. He came to bring us back to God. There is no greater love. There is no truer friend. I needed this today. Thanks, Peter.
crossman61 on July 8, 2016 at 3:06 pm
You said the words at the end of your post gagirlive ,that I was thinking as I was reading through the Devotional and the comments . There is no Greater Love than another will lay down their life for a friend . Great devotional !! relationships like this are rare these days , men that fight in battle beside one another do lay down their life for others , not only who they are with physically , but for people in their own country they die for . Thank you Jesus and Thank you all veterans .
godlove on July 8, 2016 at 3:46 pm
I can imagine how you must have felt, gagirl. At such times, you should certainly turn to the most faithful of friends one can possibly imagine to have who is Jesus. However, your tone when you talk about “a world where people treat each other as disposable plates” sounded deflated to me, I hope you’re not giving up on the possibility of finding another true and sincere friend in this world. If anything, your “friend” was sober enough to realise and honest to tell you that she isn’t the right friend you need, even if you had to ask about it first. You sound like quite a warm and friendly person to me and I’m pretty sure you will find someone who has the “time and energy to invest in a friendship” with you. One thing I always do when a friendship breaks down is I ask myself what I could have done better or different. Although different people have different characters, there is always an extra effort one can make so that things work out better the next time. And even if you don’t find your soul sister, Jesus is always there for you and for us all. Blessings dear sister.
gagirllive on July 9, 2016 at 8:40 am
Not deflated, godlove. Just making an observation that we live in a “throw away” society in terms of a lack of commitment in relationships. Oftentimes people are treated as disposable. Meaningful friendships require an investment of time and energy. It’s work. Children of God should know this above all people because of God’s faithfulness to us.