David served King Saul faithfully as musician, soldier, and son-in-law, but Saul grew paranoid and tried repeatedly to kill him.

He tried to pin him to the wall by throwing a spear at him. He sent men to kill him at his house. He led troops to attack him in battle.

Then one day, when the king and his soldiers were searching for David in the wilderness, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself not knowing that David was hiding in the cave.

The prophet Samuel called David a “better man” than Saul (1 Samuel 15:28). How was he a better man? David could have killed Saul in the cave, but he honored him as his king and let him go free.

David showed us the kind of life that God calls all people to live.

Paul spelled out our marching orders – If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).

Jesus was clear – Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God. For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:35-36).

I am a shadow of what God calls me to be.