Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. “The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. [2 Samuel 23.13-17]
The loyalty and bravery of David's men is exemplary at very least - it is beyond what most of us can even comprehend today. The actions of these warriors went beyond just camaraderie though - it was selfless love and devotion.
Imagine that! These men were the fiercest of the fiercest, and yet, their love and commitment to the leader they believed in was so compassionate as to risk their lives just to let him drink some favorite water. Who ever said love is soft?
Although modern society doesn't see it so much any more, this passage of scripture reveals that the greatest power accompanies the greatest love. Interesting.
Jesus performed some pretty amazing feats on earth. Why? Because of His love and commitment to both God and man. Could it be said, "the greater the love, the greater the power?"
The problem with "the greater the love, the greater the power" statement is that it indicts the powerless Church today. We talk a lot about 'faith' (that works by love, by the way), but don't really see any "evidence" of that faith (that works by love). Why is that? In contrast, Jesus' ultimate love manifested in ultimate power. His love for mankind was accompanied by His defeat of death itself to secure man's salvation (not to mention the countless miracles He performed while in earth).
I believe there is much the Church needs to learn about love and power. David's men showed us a picture of Jesus long ago. Jesus is what love looks like. Jesus' works are what love looks like - because love is not just a feeling - it is action.
Father, help me to demonstrate love as much as I can like David's men and, more importantly, like Jesus!
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