Genuine Love

David had the opportunity to take Saul's life, which would have been well deserved since Saul had been chasing him around to kill him, but he did not because he was a leader who possessed geniune love.

1 Samuel 26:7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice."
9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."
12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." 18 And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the LORD's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."
21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly."

1. Genuine love is not defensive-be patient. David knew that God had put him into that position for a purpose and trusted that He would deliver him. David offered to make a sacrifice for anything he may have done wrong and waited to hear Saul's reasons for trying to kill him. Impatience means we lack trust and want our rights.

2. Genuine love is not always popular-be different. Many of David's men wanted him to take Saul's life and David refused. We must be careful how we look at circumstances and who's views we are letting influence us.

3. Genuine love is powerful-be forgiving. Saul later apologizes to David and admits his wrong. He promises to go home. David is in control of the situation and forgives Saul of everything. Like David, we must trust God to make things right.

4. Genuine love needs a clear perspective-be humble. After David had taken Saul's spear and jug he called from a distance, " what have I done?". We will never be able to love people correctly until we see them clearly, with God's eyes.