SATURDAY July 13, 2019
Heartfelt Vows Spoken
Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel.”
1 Samuel 20:17-19
Jonathan and David made a vow between each other; it was a covenant of love between two souls. I believe with all my heart that there can be a genuine and sincere love between two men––not a love that is perverted in any way, as some people would think. It was a sacrificial love where they were willingly, at any time, to lay down their lives for each other.
As I thought about the friendship between Jonathan and David, one thing really touched my heart. I was reminded of the friendships I built in Vietnam. Here was where my heart was knit together with other men. We were placed in groups of men, and we ate together, fought together, and slept together. Even though some men were in Vietnam for a short time, it seemed like I had known them for a long time. In warfare, every day we knew our lives were on the line.
In Vietnam, as Marines, we made an unbreakable pact together. We would never leave anyone behind. We promised to always take our dead and wounded with us. On the battlefield, we had a strong sense of comradeship with these men because, we knew, in love, we would lay down our lives for each other–– I for them, and them for me. When anyone died, it was so hard to see…
Do you have a sacrificial love for your friends?
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
~John 15:13~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!