Cast on... Cast off... Slip... Loop...

1 Samuel 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

It's funny, but out of all of the revivals that I had the honor to preach, I stayed in a hotel once. Every state I went to preach a revival meeting I stayed with a member of the church. Years ago I was preaching a revival meeting in Roxie, MS. The family that allowed me to stay with them were older in years. Besides the revival itself, my greatest memories were sitting around a fireplace after each nightly meeting shelling pecans and talking. Sister Ruth would be knitting while Sonny and I were shelling the pecans talking about Jesus. Cast on, bind off, slip... These are the words that you would hear from Sister Ruth as she would knit. I remember watching her loop those threads of yarn together over and over. Pushing and pulling until they seemed like they became one piece.

The scripture today tells us that Johnathan and David had that same kind of friendship. Their hearts were woven together. Some of you would say, "What's the big deal? I have friends like that."  You aren't seeing the bigger picture of this friendship. This would be one easily attacked by Satan given the opportunity. You see Johnathan is the son of King Saul. Saul hated David and was jealous of him. Johnathan could have hated David in this same manner but he didn't. Johnathan could have hated David even on his own terms. David was anointed to be the King over Israel but rightfully Johnathan could have argued that he was the one who should be the next King. He was the King's son, so next in line should have been him. But that's not what happened. The soul of David and Johnathan were knit together. Friends for life they declared.

I've had friends and then I've had knitted friends. Thank you Lord for knitting my life with some of the most faithful and encouraging people I've ever known. Loop after loop you have given me some great friends, but above all of them... My friendship with You is the greatest! Let my heart beat to the same rhythm as yours Lord. Let my love be shown daily Lord Jesus. Thank you for being my friend that is closer than any brother. Pushing and pulling you have made our hearts one with every knit.