-January 25, 2022-
Good morning, happy Tuesday,
“I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.”
(Song of Solomon 7:10).
In the book of Song of Solomon there is a love story between Solomon and a Shulamite maiden. It pictures the love of Christ, our Beloved, our heavenly Bridegroom, with the church, His Bride. The Lord has an incredible love for each believer, and His desire is toward us. In the NT, the church is called the body, building, and bride of Christ. In the OT, God is the Husband and Israel is the wife of Jehovah.
The best thing about our Christian faith is our relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. Our walk with the Lord is vital to our growth in Him. He desires this relationship even more than we do. In this beautiful book, the Shulamite says, “My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies” (Song of Solomon 2:16). Solomon says in Song of Solomon 4:7, “You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you.” There is an old expression that says, “Love is blind.” That may be true, but in Christ, that is how God sees us: without spot or blemish.
In Ephesians 5:22-31, Paul uses the analogy of Christ’s love for His Bride the church in the relationship between a husband and wife. He tells the husbands, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). God sees us through Christ exactly this way. We are saved, forgiven, have eternal life, and are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. We are perfect, that is complete spiritually.
The Lord’s desire is toward us. He desires to bless us, keep us, strengthen us, and help us. He wants the very best for us at all times and in all ways. Psalm 45:11 says, “So the King will greatly desire your beauty; because He is your Lord, worship Him.” Our purity is symbolized in our white garments of salvation. Even today, most brides wear white wedding dresses.
May the Lord help us to draw near to Christ our Beloved, to worship Him and walk with Him; to live for Him and serve Him. He has made us holy, let us live holy lives for Him. He has given us everything in Christ and we belong to Him. Let each of us say, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.”
Have a blessed day with the Lord, drawing near to Him, and worshiping Him. His desire is always toward each of us. Stay safe and healthy.
In His rich and matchless love,
Dean
p.s. – Today is our 600th consecutive day of daily devotionals on the blog.
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 