Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (NLT)

I have the most amazing girlfriends. They love me when I’m celebrating and when I’m going through the ugliest of my days. They see me and often see through my false fronts when I’m hurting. My beloved friends are proof to me of how much God loves me. I love my sisters in Christ, and I know they love me.  

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As I reflect on my life, I see that I have always been surrounded by amazing women. When I was in high school, there was a group of us who hung out, and I’m still friends with them. During my early married years, while being active duty and married, God brought incredibly supportive women to my life. During each move of the Air Force, God always seemed to prepare the way for me to meet those who would turn out to be loving friends and essentially family.  

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Over the years, there were times when I could be there for my friends going through rough times, and there have been devastating times when my friends have been there for me. I’m in one of those seasons right now, and I know that without the love of God and these amazing ladies he has surrounded me with, I would not be able to navigate my day-to-day life.  

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And isn’t it beautiful that that is exactly how God meant for it to be? We were made to be loved and to love. We were made for community — just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in community.

As our verse today says, we are to love each other with genuine affection, and one of the most beautiful examples of this love is the story of David and Jonathan (found in 1 Samuel 18). Jonathan and David first met after David defeated Goliath; 1 Samuel 18:1 says, “After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself” (NLT).  

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I found an interesting commentary on this that said the reason there was an immediate bond between them was possibly because Jonathan heard David’s heart and love of God while he was talking with the king. Jonathan realized they both were devoted to God, and that drew them close. When David fell out of favor with the king (because of Saul’s own jealousy) Jonathan was ready to lay down his life to protect him from his own father.  

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Though the world might distort this genuine affection into something that has contemporary labels and faddish attraction, God saw it as the beautiful bond between those who loved him greatly and would fight for that genuine friendship. We WERE made to love – and that is a beautiful and righteous thing. May we surround ourselves with brothers and sisters who will fight for us and with us against the darkness. May we love those around us with genuine affection, confident it's what we were made to do.

God, may we love like you. May we see the people you've surrounded us with who want to love and support us as you intended. May we allow ourselves to be loved and to love in kind. God, our world is so confusing and complicated right now, and I pray that you can bring clarity and light to some of those dark, dark places. May we simplify things and just love as you love. Jesus, we love you! In your name ~ AMEN!