Not My Friend (Devotional)

8/14/2019 Not My Friend (Devotional)

1/16

Not My Friend

Devotional


2/16

Not My Friend

David wrote the following in Psalm 55:9-15,

9 Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their

speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.


3/16

Not My Friend

10Day and night they prowl about on its walls;

malice and abuse are within it.

11 Destructive forces are at work in the city;

threats and lies never leave its streets.


4/16

Not My Friend

12 If an enemy were insulting me, I could

endure it; if a foe were raising himself against

me, I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a man like myself, my

companion, my close friend,


5/16

Not My Friend

14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship

as we walked with the throng at the house of

God.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise; let

them go down alive to the grave, for evil findslodging among them.


6/16

Not My Friend

Perhaps the greatest trial you may face is when

someone you really love--a friend, or maybe a

family member--betrays you.

David wrote: If an enemy were insulting me,

could endure it;


7/16

Not My Friend

if a foe were raising himself against me, I

could hide from him.

But it is you, a man like myself, my

companion, my close friend. (verses 12-13)


8/16

Not My Friend

It takes a diamond to cut a diamond, and

sometimes our friends can hurt us deeply.

And we can deeply hurt them. David said about

his friend,


9/16

Not My Friend

The words of his mouth were smoother than

butter, but war was in his heart; his words were

softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords(v.21).

Jesus could have applied these words to Judas.


10/16

Not My Friend

He could have said,

Yes, My own familiar friend, the one who

walked with Me, the one who ate with Me--he is

the one who betrayed Me.


11/16

Not My Friend

...with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship

as we walked with the throng at the house of

God (verse 14).

How sad it is when church members, people we

fellowship with in the house of God, turn againstus and hurt us.


12/16

Not My Friend

But we must do what David did. He simply said,

Lord, You are the only One who can take care

of this.


13/16

Not My Friend

I don't understand it. I'm not going to return evil

for evil. I'm just going to leave it with You.

God met David's needs. He magnified him and

healed his wounds.


14/16

Not My Friend

We find two lessons here. First, all of us are

human. Others will hurt you sometimes.

But leave your hurt with the Lord and don't fight

back on their terms. Second, be careful not tohurt others. Be a friend who blesses, not

betrays.


15/16

Not My Friend

Betrayed trust is one of life's most difficult pills

to swallow. How you respond to those who hurt

you is a true test of your faith.

When someone hurts you, do you live on the

divine level and return good for evil, as Jesussaid in Matthew 5:44?


16/16

Not My Friend

When others do their worst, leave it with God.

He will meet your needs and use you to glorify

Himself.

Not My Friend (Devotional)

Documents

Transcript of Not My Friend (Devotional)