Jonathan is so committed to being a part of what God is doing that he willingly sacrifices his kingdom, his relationship with his father, and his relationship with his closest friend, David. Jonathan’s actions are motivated by his desire to align himself with God, even when it means humbling himself and giving up his path to the throne. God calls us to relationships based on this commitment to self-sacrifice and the elevation of His mission. We must choose daily to put aside our selfish desires and seek God’s plan above our own.

Scripture References:

• Proverbs 18:24
• 1 Samuel 18: 1-4
• 1 Samuel 14
• 1 Samuel 20

I Am Not The Same | Grace Midtown | iTunes
Exalted Over All | Vertical Church Band | iTunes
Sing to the Lord (Psalm 96) | Grace Church Worship
To Our God | Bethel Music | iTunes
You Never Fail | Hillsong Live | iTunes

1. Jonathan, as the prince and heir to the throne, takes the symbols of his royal position and gives them to David. He humbles himself before God’s plans and chooses God’s glory over his own. How might you be holding on to worldly power, dreams, or successes? Where do you need to humble yourself under God’s plans?
2. If you want someone with the character of Jonathan in your life, then you have to be someone with the character of David. David had clearly aligned himself with God, and his actions reflected that. What does it look like for you to be working towards being “a David”? What kind of steps can you take this week to move that direction?
3. Jonathan sees, in David, who he aspires to be himself. He sees the hand of God in David’s life, and any of Jonathan’s selfish ambition ceases at the foot of what God is doing. Is your life characterized by the ability to see what God is doing and a willingness to sacrifice to be part of it? Or are you too lost in what you think God should be doing for you instead? Think about a time in your life when you were unable to rejoice in the work that God was doing for someone else — what is keeping you from thinking missionally like Jonathan?
4. Jonathan gave up his inheritance to David to be aligned with God’s mission. Jesus sacrificed for us in order that we would receive His inheritance. What “kingdom” might God be asking you to sacrifice for Him? Are you willing to receive God on His terms?
5. The friendship of Jonathan and David shows us the importance of authentic, deep relationships. How well are you doing at being transparent and allowing depth into your relationships? Do your conversations tend to remain at the surface, or are you “bleeding together”? How can you grow in this area?