NorMel House Devotions

  Reading:      1Samuel 18:1-4, 23:15-18           After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.           While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be a second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” The two of them made a covenant before the Lord.           Proverbs 17:17     ...

 Reading: Genesis 26:12-16 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth. Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you; leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 6:11 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive ...

  Reading: James 4:4           You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.           Romans 12:17-21           Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this , you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.           It seems that these two scripture passages conflict with one another. One seems to say stay away from worldly people and the other to d...

#2 Friendship With Christ Read:      John 15:9-17          As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you what you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.           Many people ...

What a beautiful thing friendship can be. We all experience friendship through out our lives and can relate to it. Have you ever considered your relationship with God to be a friendship? God has things to tell us about friendship in His word. We can use His amazing wisdom to make our friendships good and long lasting ones.  I'll be working through a 5-part devotional series on friendships that my wonderful mother wrote (and passing on my two cents as well); hope you enjoy this series! Friendship with God Read:      Exodus 33: 7, 9-11           Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch is outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting”. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped each at the entrance to his tent. The Lord would speak t...