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Today is Wednesday April 07, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Samuel, chapters 19-21. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-7

Title: Bible Study: God Is On Our Side
As Christians we face a lot of opposition because of the fact that we are Christians. Often, those who we thought were our friends and even family members have sought to shame and destroy us because of our faith in the Son of the living God. People who live in the world are jealous of us. Why? Because we live our lives to please Jesus. They see our lives changing for the better, even during the circumstances we face, and that makes them jealous because they know that God is on our side.

David was being hunted down like an animal, Saul became so jealous and enraged over David's popularity that he sought to kill him. “And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?” - I Samuel 19:1-5. Jonathan knew that there was no cause for his father to kill David so he pleaded with Saul, reminding him that it was David through the power of God who saved Israel from the hand of the Philistines. People of the world do not need a reason to try to destroy a child of God. The truth is that they see the blessings that God gives you and that enrages them because their lives are not changing. The first reaction is to destroy the person, but in reality what they are really trying to do is destroy the image of God that is inside you.

Jealousy is like a disease, it slowly spreads until it consumes and controls the person that it captures and stops at nothing to destroy what gets in its way. Saul became increasingly violent with an uncontrolled temper, he considered any opposition as treason. So, when his own son defended David he denounced him and even attempted to kill him as well. “Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.” - Samuel 20:30-33. Jonathan became a victim when he defended David. He could have avoided any risk to himself if he had decided not to get involved, but he knew that he was defending an innocent man, whatever the cost to him, and that displayed biblical principles by doing what he knew was morally right. We will all be faced with the choice to stand by our morals or not get involved, but the choice we make determines if we are following the will of God or our own. Jesus Said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” - Luke 14:26,27. This does not mean that we are to literally hate our family or ourselves in order to be a disciple of Christ, it means that in all we do, our love for Christ is to be so much that He comes before anyone one else. When we put God first, others may think they are ignored or hated, but it is our faith in Jesus that will make us disciples.

Now, no matter how strong our faith in God, we can get a little discouraged at times when it seems that nothing is going our way. God is on our side and it is through our discouragement that He will comfort us more than ever. Many of the Psalms written in the Bible were from David when he was discouraged and seeking comfort from God. We can all find peace and comfort during all our discouragements, “O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” - Psalm 9:6-10. God never forsakes those who put their trust in Him. Praise God!


Enjoy the rest of your day/night and rest of the week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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