More Wonderful Than Women

25 "How the mighty have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
more wonderful than that of women.

2 Samuel 1:25-26

David loved Jonathan and spoke of Jonathan’s love for him. They were unlikely brothers. One the son of the current king. The other the one anointed to be the next king. There was great potential for suspicion, posturing, distrust and hatred – and yet these two shared a deep love for one another. David described it as ‘wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.’ The love of a woman is compelling and rich, an amazing gift from God when experienced as He intended. And even when it’s not… there’s a powerful dynamic, and intoxication in sexual expression, even when it is sin. David know this, of course. In his reflecting on Jonathan’s friendship, David said it was more wonderful than all of that. His love for Jonathan and Jonathan’s love for him was more intense, more compelling, more meaningful.

Having a brother is a great gift. Having another guy who will go into the battle with you… guarding your back,, it is a powerful connection. Having a ‘band of brothers’ is even better. These relationships require investment. They do not just happen. Isolation is what ‘just happens.’ Evil forces will seek to divide and conquer a band of brothers. In Christ, however, they can be rock solid.

Lord, thank you that you are a brother to me. Your love is amazing and wonderful. Thank you for providing other brothers that I can walk with, sharing this journey that you have given us. Strengthen our bond and use us to extend your rule here on earth.



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The Bold Life

24"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.

Matthew 10:24-25

To be like Jesus is enough… more than enough! I am the student, He is the Teacher. I am the servant, He is the Master. Here in Matthew 10 Jesus is bold. Life in the Kingdom is black and white. People will have to choose. Jesus said that He didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword (vs 34). The Kingdom is opposed to the kingdom of this world – and choosing to follow Jesus will “turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother…” (vs 35). A follower of Jesus must take up his cross and follow Jesus. To find your life in Him you must lose your life here… Live for Jesus to find true life.

For me to be like Jesus will mean calling people to choose. It will mean a bold, courageous life that takes risks and is not afraid of loss because anything that can be lost isn’t of greatest value anyway. What is of greatest value cannot be lost! Along with my gracious nature needs to come a fearlessness based in Jesus. To be assertive and bold for Christ so that His Kingdom can be extended and enlarged in the hearts of men… this is to follow in the spirit of Matthew 10.

Lord, as you lead me, I will follow. Be the conquering King in my life and give me direction for the best use of my life – for Your glory. I thank You for Your love, Your grace and Your boldness! You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords.


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I Got Your Back!

6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

7 "Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."

1 Samuel 14:6-7

Jonathan had faith in the Lord and a friend behind him. This is a powerful combination! That day Jonathan and his armor-bearer routed 20 Philistine soldiers at their outpost. Jonathan’s faith in God inspired his friend (“I am with you heart and soul.”) His friend’s loyalty strengthened Jonathan’s heart.

I need more bold confidence and faith in the Lord. There are certainly enemies of God’s people around here! I need to believe and have the utmost confidence that God is going to use me/us to rout the enemy. My confidence must be high. As I share my faith in God it will inspire my brothers. Their loyalty and commitment strengthens and emboldens me! God’s victory through me is the result. What’s more – I need to be an armor-bearer for my brothers. As I respond to their faith in God and support them, I will see more of God’s power through us. Victory comes by faith in God and through community. Without God or my brothers, I could do nothing.

Remind me, Father, how much I need You. Nothing can be accomplished apart from You! You also give me friends who share this belief and confidence in You. Thank You! Use us to impact this community and bring damage to the Kingdom of darkness.


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Needing To Boast

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 11:30

Weaknesses show Christ’s strength. His power is perfected in weakness, Paul will write later (2 Cor. 12). If he must boast, he will boast in those things.

Do I share my wounds and scars with other brothers? Do I lay my armor down and show my weaknesses? Paul, the Apostle, did! And in showing and boasting about his weaknesses, the strength of Jesus is made known. People will not be helped by my strengths and glowing achievements. They will be helped by my authenticity and by Christ living through me.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being without weakness and for showing your strength in my life. I entrust my day… my life to you.


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Valiant Men

Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.

1 Samuel 10:26

Saul was anointed King, but he wasn’t king yet. He went to his house and essentially was waiting on God. Men who were described as valiant accompanied him. They were men whose “hearts God had touched.” We all need these kind of men to accompany us. We need a band of brothers! God does touch hearts. He does move people. It’s a mystery, but He does it.

I need more valiant men around me… men who have had their hearts changed by God. I need more men around me who are actively led by the Spirit of God. What’s more, I need to BE a valiant man for others. I want to be moved by God and be available to support and help other men whom God is leading.

Father, touch my heart and make me valiant. Lead me where you want me to go.


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I Am A Son

16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
18"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

2 Corinthians 6:16, 18

On this Good Friday it is an amazing love God has for me. God sent His Son to earth to die an unjust death… one that I deserved! Through the cross God delivers this amazing grace to me. Through the cross He demonstrates His amazing love for me.

I praise Your Name today, Father, for the gift of Jesus. Through Him you have given me life. Through Him you live with me. Because of Jesus I am a son of the Lord Almighty!



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Reflecting God's Glory

16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

I have turned to the Lord and am reflecting His glory. With “even increasing glory” I am being transformed into His likeness! This is God’s agenda… to re-create me into the image of His Son and to shine gloriously through me.

God doesn’t re-create me in an instant. Imagine the glory of that! I think of Jesus when He went to the mountain. Peter, James and John were with Him. There He was transfigured before them and the glory of the Lord wa all over that place! Jesus shone with a brilliant glory. For Christ it was a revealing of His very self. For me it is an incremental growth process, changing my inner being to be like Jesus. The outer life follows the inner life. It is radiant the moment I turned my life over to Jesus… and it is growing ever increasing in its glory as I become more and more like Jesus. (One day I’ll be changed in an instant! 1Thessalonans 4. John said that we will all be like Him for we will see Him as He is. That’ll be a day!)

Let’s open the hood and check the inner world. How’s the process going? My priority is to remain yielded to God. My heart needs to say “Yes, Lord.” I also need to be aware of how the ways of this world want to claim my heart. All of those thoughts and feelings need to be taken to God and pass through His filter… while I stay yielded to His purpose and direction for my life.

Father, thank you for re-creating me. You are glorious and I want to reflect you more.


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