Title: The Power to Start - Love
Contents
Power to start - love
1 Samuel 18:1-5
Love is power. David lived through the power of love in difficult times. Through the story of David and Jonathan, let's find out what kind of love gives strength.
1. True love is the strength.
God's love is true love. Jonathan and David had a sincere love. 1 Samuel 18:3 says, “Jonathan loved David as his own life, and made a covenant with him.” David and Jonathan said they made a covenant. This means true love. True love is unchanging love. We are saved by God's true love. True love is love that transcends circumstances. Today, people say they love each other, but when small difficulties arise, they change. David and Jonathan's friendship was not like that. It was a love that overcame circumstances. Jonathan's father, Saul and David, became enemies. But their love did not change. Love that changes according to circumstances is not true love. I hope that love that overcomes the environment.
2. Love to serve becomes strength.
Jonathan loved David. Their love was a love of service. His love was the love of sharing. Giving one's own is love, and this is service. 1 Samuel 18:4 says, “And Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, and so did his robe, his sword, his bow and his belt.” said In Acts 20:35, Paul says, “I have set an example for you in all things, that you should remember that in this way you work to help the weak, and that it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Love is giving. It is giving generously. Giving without expecting anything in return. It's about giving something good. Jonathan said he had given him his robe. A prince's robe is a symbol of the prince's authority. In this way, Jonathan loved David by serving and sharing.
3. Reciprocating love gives strength.
David lived by the power of Jonathan's love. We overcame difficulties with the power of love. And in the future, when David becomes king and defeats the Philistines and the nation finds stability, David thinks of Jonathan again. Love is all about doing well. There was a son of Jonathan. His name was Mephibosheth. He limbed both legs. David tells him to find Mephibosheth. When Mephibosheth came to David, he said, “Do you care about me like a dead dog?” What does David mean? In 2 Samuel 9:7 David said, “Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you favor because of your father Jonathan.” Love is reciprocal. This is what gives you strength.