The 3
1 Chronicles 11
Now these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.”
I Chronicles 11:10 NKJV
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.”
Proverbs 13:20 NKJV
“The Big Three from the Thirty made a rocky descent to David at the Cave of Adullam while a company of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. David was holed up in the Cave while the Philistines were prepared for battle at Bethlehem. David had a sudden craving: “What I wouldn’t give for a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem, the one at the gate!” The Three penetrated the Philistine camp, drew water from the well at the Bethlehem gate, shouldered it, and brought it to David. And then David wouldn’t drink it! He poured it out as a sacred offering to God, saying, “I’d rather be damned by God than drink this! It would be like drinking the lifeblood of these men—they risked their lives to bring it.” So he refused to drink it. These are the kinds of things that the Big Three of the Mighty Men did.”
1 Chronicles 11:15-19 MSG
Get yourself some good friends. Wise friends. Great friends. Friends who pursue wisdom. Friends who pursue growth.
Stop settling for mediocrity in friendship.
There is a caveat however. You must first stop being a mediocre friend first.
As many times that I have read these verses I am always astonished by these men’s willingness to fight for their king and friend. To believe so fully in a person, in their call, and vision to risk your life for it.
That’s what following Jesus is. Having such belief and faith in Him as your Messiah and King that you lay your life down for Him.
But we’re not talking about laying down a life for your Savior, we’re talking about risking it for a friend. Could you do that for any of your friends? Could you put your life on hold in pursuit to assist your friend in fulfilling their destiny and call?
Our society is set up as a me against the world scenario. I would think it’s nearly impossible to do these things now, but that irritates me. I don’t want to live in a silo. I want to live in pursuit of greatness in a cluster.
How has this challenged you to live differently? Can you make a change to live different? Friend different?
Jesus- thank you for showing us how to lay down our lives for Your cause. Would You give us light on how to live differently? Show us how to live a life that doesn’t put our existence at the very center for every decision we make. Give us opportunity to live life differently, to live in clusters in pursuit of a life filled with the unexplainable, the unfathomable- the miraculous. A life filled with unknowns, but crowned with your anointing and power to make a difference in this world. I love You Jesus, it’s in your name I pray. Amen.
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