I am a friend like __________.
Feb 22
by Victoria Robinson
Among King David’s close friends, there are two that stand out. One was Jonathan and the other Ahithophel. On the one hand he had a faithful friend in Jonathan. On the other hand he had a faithless friend in Ahithophel.
Johnathan was the son of Saul who had become jealous of David and sought to destroy him. Jonathan faithfully watched out for his friend David. After the death of Jonathan, David penned these words, “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.”
Then we have the unfortunate betrayal of Ahithophel who was David’s counselor who turned against him and sided with Absalom. Later when Ahithophel saw he had no longer any influence, and accordingly he at once left the camp of Absalom and returned to Giloh. There in his misery, he hanged himself. David also penned some words about this faithless friend, “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”
So, are you a faithful friend like Jonathan or are you a faithless friend like Ahithophel? If you filled in the blank above, which of David’s friend’s names would you put? Dearest girlfriends, I pray we would honor our heavenly Father by always being faithful in our friendships.
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” … ~ 1 Samuel 20:42 NIV
How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. 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 NIV
While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing. ~ 2 Samuel 15:12 NIV
Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “O LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” ~ 2 Samuel 15:31 NIV
Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. ~ Psalm 41:9 NIV
A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. ~ Proverbs 12:26 NIV
A friend loves at all times … ~ Proverbs 17:17 NIV
Tags: 1 samuel, absalom, ahithophel, betrayal, close friends, counselor, death of jonathan, faithful friend, faithful friendship, faithless friend, friend david, friendships, johnathan, jonathan david, misery, niv, sacrifices, saul, Victoria Robinson 
Posted in A Godly Life | Comments Off on I am a friend like __________.
Has Your Betrayer Come?
Jan 20
by Victoria Robinson
Girlfriends, have you ever experienced betrayal? The pain hurts sooo bad! Betrayal is such an ugly sin. As we all know, our Lord and Savior experienced the ultimate betrayal. In the book of Mark, Jesus said the dreaded words, “Here comes my betrayer!” He knew all along this was going to happen. Unlike Jesus, the betrayals in your life have most likely happened unannounced. After the shock subsides, you are left with agonizing pain. The pain in turn has the potential to produce in you a bitter heart. Once this happens, you are now taking on the ugliness of your betrayer.
Just like Jesus, your betrayer has possibly come from those closest to you which might make the thought of forgiveness unimaginable. Yet it is important to stop the cycle of misery by forgiving your betrayer. Think of it as giving yourself a betrayal makeover. Trust me girlfriends, your beauty will shine like your Lord and Savior!
Dearest girlfriends, I pray we would deal with betrayal in a godly manner and allow the forgiveness of our heavenly Father to flow through us.
… Here comes my betrayer! ~ Mark 14:42 NIV
Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ~ John 6:64 NIV
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ~ Hebrews 12:15 NIV
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~ Colossians 3:13 NIV
Tags: agonizing pain, betrayal, betrayals, betrayer, bitter heart, bitter root, colossians 3, forgiveness, godly manner, grace of god, grievances, heavenly father, hebrews 12, Jesus, lord and savior, misery, shock, ugliness, Victoria Robinson
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Has Your Betrayer Come?