Key Verse: 2 Samuel 3:1, 36
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker… Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.

Today’s reading documents the continuing struggle between those loyal to Saul’s legacy versus David’s. Saul’s General Abner and David’s General Joab lead the continuing conflict with good reason. Abner, as Saul’s right-hand man, had tried again and again with his soldiers to kill David. Abner had personally killed Joab’s brother, Asahel. It might be good for us to read Jesus’ Words in Matthew 5:43-48. By having a welcome feast for Abner, David was not only making a wise political move, he was showing that he could rise above the past and love his enemy. No wonder the northern tribes were willing to transfer their loyalty from the house of Saul to David. Once again David mourns over the death of an enemy. It has been said the very best way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend. Jesus is known as the Friend of sinners. Romans 5:8 declares that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:10 tells us, “When we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” Because Jesus is “the resurrection and the life” we have the sure knowledge that JESUS will never leave nor forsake us and nothing can separate us from His love. Therefore, with His love in us, we too can love our enemies.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, in the Name of Your Son, my Saviour and Lord Jesus, I pray for grace to love people more and more, and not just those who love me but everyone I meet. I want to be more and more like You, Jesus. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As I read of the banquet David put on for Abner, I kept thinking of David’s words in Psalm 23, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” David’s experience was that God did this for him. Now, David does this for others.

In over 50 years of seeking to communicate God’s love to mass media audiences, I have had a number of critics who, while I wouldn’t call them enemies, were not very friendly. I had learned that I should make no defence or offence of myself when attacked verbally in the press. I really tried to be friendly to these people in practical ways. When the negative publicity hit the fan concerning certain TV evangelists, these people who had attacked me in the past rallied immediately to my defence, saying very positive things about 100 Huntley Street and about me as an evangelist. Proverbs 11:30b says that, “He who wins souls is wise.” I pray for wisdom fervently every morning, because I know that if I do not have wisdom from God, I’ll turn more people away from God than I bring to Him. I’ve just accessed on Youtube the old hymn, “Jesus, What A Friend of Sinners” by the Gaither Vocal Band. Here’s a link to the audio of them singing it a capella. I’m blessed!

Yours for loving all people, even those who may have acted like enemies,

David