You Don’t Have to Be Perfect

(Read 1 Samuel 20:3-15)

This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.”  Yesterday we saw how David was at the point of frustration, tired of the constant attacks, and he told Jonathan that he was “only one step ahead of death.”  Jonathan wanted to know how he could help.  David said, “Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, and I’m supposed to eat dinner with your father. But instead, I’ll hide in a field until the evening of the next day. If Saul wonders where I am, tell him, “David asked me to let him go to his hometown of Bethlehem, so he could take part in a sacrifice his family makes there every year.” If your father says it’s all right, then I’m safe. But if he gets angry, you’ll know he wants to harm me. Be kind to me. After all, it was your idea to promise the Lord that we would always be loyal friends. If I’ve done anything wrong, kill me yourself, but don’t hand me over to your father.”  Wow, David was so frustrated that he was ready to give himself over to Jonathan, to be killed by his friend; willing to accept anything but death by the hand of Saul.  This is important to understand, because it reveals to us that David wavered in his faith like many of us do.  David was not standing strong in faith, without wavering, believing God to protect him.  No, David was tired, upset, frustrated, and ready to give up.  We all get to that point at certain times in our lives, but thank God that our lapses in faith does not disqualify us from God’s promises.

Jonathan said, “Don’t worry, if I find out that my father wants to kill you, I’ll certainly let you know.”  “How will you do that?” David asked.  “Let’s go out to this field, and I’ll tell you,” Jonathan answered.  When they got there, Jonathan said: “I swear by the Lord God of Israel, that two days from now I’ll know what my father is planning. Of course I’ll let you know if he’s friendly toward you.  But if he wants to harm you, I promise to tell you and help you escape.  And I ask the Lord to punish me severely if I don’t keep my promise.”  Think about the significance of what was happening.  Prince Jonathan was the heir to the throne.  It was no secret that David was a threat to taking his place as the next king.  But instead of being upset about it, the Lord used Jonathan, the person David would eventually replace, to go out of his way to bless David.  And look at the severity of Jonathan’s sincerity.  Jonathan pronounced a curse on himself if he did not keep his promise to help David.  That was no small act.  And then, after willing to curse himself, Jonathan went on to bless David, saying, “I pray that the Lord will bless you, just as he used to bless my father.  Someday the Lord will wipe out all of your enemies.  Then if I’m still alive, please be as kind to me as the Lord has been.  But if I’m dead, be kind to my family.”  Jonathan was conceding the throne, pronouncing a blessing upon David, and then asking for mercy, in advance, from the future king.  We will stop here for today.

So what does this mean to you today?  Two things:
1.  A lapse in faith does not disqualify you from the promise.  When you fall ‘out of faith’ for a season it may impact how long you wait — because how you wait does affect how long you wait — but you cannot disqualify yourself from what God has qualified you for by grace.  Said another way, God does not require you to be perfect to receive His promises.  Thank God for grace!

2.  God will bless you through the most unlikely of people.  If anyone should have been upset with David, it was Jonathan, because David would eventually take his place.  But Jonathan had already conceded the throne to David, in his heart, and he was willing to accept a curse from God if he did not do everything he could to bless David.  God will give you favor with people you would never expect to receive favor from, and cause them to bless you, even at their own expense.

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for this teaching.  I am committed to living my life by faith.  I do not live by what I see with my natural eyes.  I live my life by what I see in the Spirit.  What I see in the natural is temporary and subject to change.  What I see in the Spirit is eternal and immutable.  I have the ability to see with my inner man and I live my life by what I see.  When You reveal to me what You have already destined me to have, I agree with it and I align my lips (declaring) and legs (doing) what You have revealed to me.  By doing so I am living by faith and not by sight.  I don’t allow my present circumstances to keep me from living by a greater reality.  However, Father, I thank You for not requiring me to be perfect.  On those occasions where I have a lapse in faith, and where I am not as strong as I should be, I thank You for keeping the promise for me, waiting for me to get back ‘in-faith’ to receive it.  Thank You Father for not allowing my fail failures to disqualify me from what You have already qualified me for, by grace.  My lapses in faith may cause a delay, but I shall not be denied.  And along the way You raise up people who are willing to bless me, even when it costs them personally to do it.  Your faith and Your favor, Your grace and Your mercy, they are all amazing and I shall never cease to give Your praise for being so good to me.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.