Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 18:3-4, Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.
What a wonderful picture we see here in the love relationship between Jonathan and David and what Jesus did for us. Jonathan, in seeing David arrayed in the clothing of a poor shepherd boy, took off his own royal garments, armor, and weapons, and put them on David. What drove these actions? It was the love Jonathan had for David. In this case, David earned the honor of wearing such apparel, and Jonathan seemed to recognize this. In an instant, those who looked upon David would no longer see a shepherd boy, but one fit to be a prince and future king. Even though we see some similarities here to what Jesus did for us, there are some great and very significant differences. First, we must note that even though Jonathan dresses David with his clothing and weapons, he does not take on David’s clothing, staff, or sling. Jesus on the other hand took on our sins. What drove Him to do this? His love for us, as recorded for us in John 3:16, led Him to the Cross. He took on our dirty clothing before He clothed us with His righteousness. 1 Peter 2:24 tells us, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 clearly tells us, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Isaiah 61:10 reminds us, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Jesus has clothed us in His righteousness (Philippians 3:9). We were poor and broken, and unlike David, we cannot prove that we are worthy of such royalty, because we are unrighteous sinners and all have come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Yet, being clothed in Jesus’ righteousness we have been made a royal priesthood of believers. 1 Peter 2:9-10 state, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” While David proved his worth in being able to wear the royal garments, we are told that there is nothing we can do to prove ourselves or earn the salvation that is only available in Christ Jesus (Isaiah 64:6; John 14:6). Instead, we are told that God’s free gift in Jesus Christ is only obtained by God’s grace, when we put our faith in, and call upon, Jesus as Savior and Lord (Romans 10:13). Titus 3:4-7 assures us, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” In saying all this, I will remind us all that we may not be able to prove ourselves worthy of such an unworthy and wonderful gift, but we can certainly prove that we have received it by the way we live for the Lord. Doing the most we can, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to live a life of faith, of righteous living, for the glory of God, will prove to the world that we are the children of God. It will also open opportunities for us to share this most wonderful gift with the lost a dying world.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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