A principle of an informal friendship covenant is forgiveness | Pastor ...

Scripture Reading:? 1 Samuel 20:35-42

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 18:3

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

We started yesterday?s devotional with the discussion about covenants in friendship.? We seldom have formal covenants.? However, to maintain lasting friendships, we will need to form some informal covenants in our minds.

One of the principles of these informal covenants is to let some offenses bounce off you.? We must prepare for the moment when our best friend will hurt us, not if.? Everyone is human and will do or say things that won?t feel good to us at times.? Some of these offenses need to be dealt with, as I mentioned in yesterday?s devotional.? However, many of the small offenses we must be willing to truly let bounce off of us and not become offended.

Another principle of an informal friendship covenant is forgiveness.? Whether it?s an offense that needs to be talked about or one that can be ignored, forgiveness comes into play.? No one can enjoy the benefits of a deep friendship without practicing forgiveness along the journey with this friend.? We desperately need forgiveness from our Father in heaven, and He expects us to be forgiving people (Matthew 6:14-15).

Forgiveness is like closing a bank account.? After you forgive someone, you must stop making any further negative deposits (thoughts) into that account (relationship).

Father, I am so grateful for your patience with me.? You are so quick to forgive.? Please help me to pass this on to my friends.? In Jesus? name, amen.

Source: http://pastorbensr.thenaz.org/?p=3828

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