Text: Song of Songs 8:5-14, Deuteronomy 4:24, John 10:27-30, Hebrews 8:8-13, 1 John 4:19
What makes you blush?
We don’t always blush from embarrassment; we sometimes blush in surprise and delight. Can you remember a time you blushed with delighted surprise? Sometimes I blush over gifts and sometimes I blush about compliments, but my cheeks were at their rosiest when I first met my love. There’s a certain look he used to give me that told me he was utterly slain by me—and, oh, how it made my cheeks burn. The surprises of love, the power of love, and love’s delights are the sweetest things I have ever experienced.
God didn’t have to allow us to fall in love with each other. I imagine that we could theoretically procreate, carry on the species, and get our jobs done without love. But God is love, and He gave us the subtle delights of love to hold all of life’s pieces together. Love elevates the mundane to magical.
Early on in our relationship, I remember us sitting in a car together; we talked and he touched my fingers—that was all. But when the car door opened for me to get out, I literally fell on the ground, I was so incapacitated. God didn’t have to let us fall ridiculously in love with each other. But He made us for love!
Song of Songs makes me blush. In fact, it makes me blush like a wedding night makes us blush—at the surprise and joy of intimacy.
There are two beautiful parallels between Christ as the bridegroom to the Church and the husband as bridegroom to his bride that stand out: People who love each other desire time together, and they pursue that time with one another in spite of obstacles.
“A huge torrent cannot extinguish love.” Have you ever longed to be with your beloved? We desire that Christ will write our name on His heart and in His book. He has done this, saying, “look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16). And He invites us to write His name as a seal on our own hearts (Song of Songs 8:6-7).
“Rivers cannot sweep it away.” Have you ever loved in spite of obstacles? Just as the pains of disappointed love are like a death, the love of Christ for the Church is as strong as death. Our love for Christ makes us dead to everything else. Indeed, we cannot be separated from the love of Christ even by death (Romans 8:38, Song of Songs 8:7).
Without love we have nothing (1 Colossians 13:1). God’s intimate adoration cannot be bought or traded; we can’t earn it. It is impossible, inexplicable, and overwhelming. Just like falling in love.
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56 thoughts on "Made for Love"
Relying on his intimate love to sustain me. ❤️
Just FYI, the scripture reference at the very end should be 1 Corinthians 13:1, not Colossians.
Wow. Today’s study was such a beautiful reminder that love is a gift from God and that every bit of it only comes from Him. I have been struggling with being content in my singleness like some of you ladies, but I am so thankful to see that I am not alone in it. Thank you all for being so vulnerable and allowing King Jesus to speak through y’all by sharing little nuggets of encouragement and truth.
I love the parallels in this section! It honestly makes my heart grow warm the way my fiancé does! To be in such an intimate kind of love … and to know that the ability, and the desire, to love and be loved is a true gift from God … WOW!!!
“Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
The very flame of the Lord.
7 “Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers overflow it;
If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.”
❤️❤️❤️
Mma jest sportem efektownym i widowiskowym- dzieje się tak dzięki różnorodności i wielości technik używanych podczas walki.
http://mmaportal.pl/mma-informacje/
At first I was hesitant about this Bible study- I am a 23 year old who has never been kissed, been on a date or had a boyfriend. As much as my heart yearns for marriage and children, it just seems like I am not getting closer.
So you can understand my hesitance towards this study. However, it is helping me to focus on God’s love! His crazy, unimaginable, counter-culture love for us!! How great is our God!!
So thank you SRT for this beautiful insight into God’s love for me. So in my current season I will continue to pursue God and hopefully one day a Godly man will want to pursue me in order to give God all the glory.
Hold firm, delight in the blessings God has for you as a single woman, and hope for the future fulfillment of the promises God has for you. My first kiss was at 27 with my now husband – I wouldn’t trade that for the world! But I had to remind myself constantly that my relationship with God as a single woman was so freeing because, as Paul points out, I only had to answer to Him and to serve Him. I can look back at my single-life with appreciation because it was an opportunity to serve God in a way that I can’t now that I’m married – I can’t hop on a plane and go serve overseas for a year, my resources are not my own, and my life is not my own any longer. I’m in a different stage of promises, blessings, and service (and still trying to figure them out) but, I urge you, to embrace your stage of life and run with it!
I saw the first sentence of your post and realized I could have written it. I am in exactly the same situation, and I am so glad that God pushed me towards this study, even though I had planned to doing another one. It has repeatedly overwhelmed me (in the best way) with how great God’s love is! I pray that we never lose sight of how awesome His love is, no matter what season we face.
Praying for you, Sarah Jane, as you see your completeness in Christ. I had my first boyfriend at 27, my first kiss (from him) at 28 and we’re now married @29yrs old. I thank the Lord that I waited for the man who was worth waiting for, who I was able to give my heart to.
But like Sarah M said, I would not have given up that time of growing in the Lord during those 27 yrs of singleness for anything! I gleaned from reading the Word, books, met with women in bible studies and mentoring from trusted women. May you find the joy and adventure in being single while you anticipate the man God has for you ❤
Though I am not in exactly the same place as you, I can tell you that your waiting season can bring so much glory to God. My boyfriend and I started our relationship with the expectation that we were going to wait to kiss until we are married (and let me point out that I’ve never been kissed by anyone). A girl in one of my college classes found this out and when she asked me why I’m doing this, I was able to share the gospel with her and explain why God’s design is best! God asks us to sacrifice things for him so that he can get the glory and so that we can be a light for him in the process.
By far, today’s devotional was the most difficult to read. But, such a good, solid reminder that nothing, nothing, nothing separates us from God’s love. That Christ DID die for us. I guess, I’m mostly adding a comment to say, that the line about ‘the pains of disappointed love are like a death’ hit too close to home, and I don’t know how to really read into it. Christ’s love covers everything, but man, is that disappointed love not going away… or healing.
Sara, oh how well do I know that pain. That sinking feeling of loss but do you know what in that pain look up to him. Christ does heal, restores, he refines and gives new life. Latch on to his promise, he is closer to the broken hearted and sees ever tear. Joel 2:25 he will the repay the Years the locust have stolen.
Praying for peace, that you may be aware of his presence and his loving arms wrapped around you so tightly, so that you may experience his extravagant love
Thank you so much for this!
Praying for you and your Grandma Katalina. May you feel God’s presence!
Thank you Candy
I am new to reading the Bible everyday and I am wondering what other people do to study the word more closely? I don’t know if I should journal about the scripture or write out passages or other possible options. Any suggestions?
Journaling is such a special time for me. Somehow God makes connections for me between His word and my struggles as I put pen to paper and write out what I feel God is teaching me. So, yes, I highly suggest that you journal. My church teaches SOAP journaling. Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Enjoy your time with God and His word!
Yes, journaling is amazing for me! This looks different for everyone. For me, I just write down what sticks out to me most- a verse or a devotional quote, for instance. I also write out my prayer, because it is so easy for this girl to get distracted. It’s helpful to know how you study best then play to your strengths. :) I like to emphasize certain verses with calligraphy and incorporate watercolor since I am a super visual, hands-on kind of person- while others would do better highlighting, underlining, etc. You do you!
Sisters, I need lots of prayer. I have a group chat w. my whole family and We’ve been told that my grandmother is in the hospital. She fell twice and lost her memory for a while. Please keep her in your prayers. They’re taking some blood test to see what’s going on but please pray for her so that she’ll get better and that everything comes out ok.
Praying for you and your family Katalina.
Thank you Sandy
Praying.
Thank you Agatha
This study has been particularly hard for me. My marriage is struggling and I feel very lonely and rejected. It is nice to be reminded of how much God loves me despite how others act towards me; but the references to marital love are pretty painful.
This has been my least favourite study. My marriage is not in trouble but I have been struggling with this study as well. Not being head over heels in love, I feel inadequate and alienated reading these words by the author. My thoughts have been “If I don’t feel this in my earthly marriage does that mean I cannot be in a close relationship with God?” I have been a Christian for many years so I now that isn’t true, but I still judge myself because I don’t have this Song of Songs relationship experience on earth. (and I have tried, still have not found what my problem is)
Hey Andee and TW, I felt like the Holy Spirit was nudging me to respond to you gals and I couldn’t just ignore it and continue scrolling through the comments. I so admire how honest and vulnerable you both are in sharing your reality- not an easy thing to do. I know how it feels to be struggling in marriage too and it sucks. Im truly sorry to hear that both of you are in pain and feeling alone right now. Im not sure what the answers are for you, as I don’t know you or your marriages on a personal level, but I can encourage you to pray and seek and lean on God in your pain and struggle. He loves you dearly. I encourage you to consider praying with and for your spouse, with a loving heart. I would encourage you to be honest with your spouse about how you’re feeling and communicate in love. If you want a Song of Songs relationship with your spouse in order to experience an even deeper relationship with Christ, ask God for it and share this concern and desire with your spouse. Hope things get better soon! And I hope God’s truth and love sustains you both!
I have felt this many times over. Earthly love is nothing compared to the love that Christ provides. I have found that if I lean in and focus on my relationship with the Lord that my marriage and emotions realign! I have realized that if I’m not connected with my God then I’m easily disconnected from my guy. And love goes through seasons. Remember that our emotions are not set in truth, but that God provides truth. Our emotions, friends, lovers and this world will all fail us, BUT Gods promises will always prevail.
I hear you… I’m with you. I love my husband, but it’s not that lovey dovey butterflies, I lose my breath when I see him love… maybe one day it will be and I have HOPE that it can be as I continue to trust the Lord with my marriage. Anyways, KNOW you are not alone, sister ❤
“hurry to me my love” How beautiful — something I imagine he is saying to all of his children.
http://www.in-due-time.com
Just like in the live action Cinderella movie!!! Before Cinderella went in to see the prince. The fairy godmother said, “Perhaps the greatest risk any of us will ever take is to be seen for who we truly are.” And Cinderella told the prince who she was. Cinder-ella. Ashes and all. Rags and all. And he accepted her. Rags and all. Just like Jesus accepts me. All of me. Every doubt, fear, worry, mistake. Every single part of my soul. He heals me. And He loves me. Forever. He will never stop loving us. Thank you Jesus!
I want to love better. Not just the people around me, but also my God. Sometimes I feel like I read through these studies but I don’t allow it to pierce or change my heart. My prayer is that it does and God will transform my heart from the inside out.
This is so beautiful <3 I'm a hopeless romantic so anything having to do with love makes me giddy :) Christ is love and He gives it to us as a gift that we can share with others and with our special person.
Ladies, Fervent prayers are needed for a family in Pennsylvania!!! …”leaning on the one she loves”… Very recently, a 30-year-old mother, with no prior medical condition, collapsed and died in front of her 7 and 9 year-old children. She was the only breadwinner while her husband takes double the typical course load in order to finish his degree and support his family.
Please pray for the needs of their hearts and their bodies.
https://www.youcaring.com/samerdoss-763071
Just prayed for this precious family.
I was just talked to my small group about how I get so excited to introduce my husband to people. I can’t wait to show him off. This excitement should be the same with out Lord. Am I just as excited to share His love with those around me? With those who don’t know Him yet? If marriage and love is a small picture of His love then we should be just as excited to share Him with others!
http://www.littlelightonahill.com
This is so very true! My husband and I have almost been married 5months, and I love introducing him as mine! Thank you for this gentle and relevant reminder.
“Who is this coming up from the wilderness,leaning on the one she loves?”. Have we not all been in a wilderness time? A time when life is hard, friends are few,and God seems silent. It is in those times when I have scoured the Scriptures for answers, comfort, hope. Sometimes it took a few minutes, sometimes a few hours, and sometimes even several days. There were times I nearly gave up. Yet when I stayed the course, I inevitably found encouragement, direction, correction and hope. When I lean on the Word while in the Wilderness, He becomes my walking stick. And I walk out, leaning on the One who is always there. Praying today for those in the dark place, that you would lean heavy on His everlasting arms of Love. Feel His embrace. Know His love is there.
thank you for your comment. so encouraging this morning.
Love this! Thank you for your encouragement Churchmouse
Thank you. I sense that you are praying for me and our family as we are in a wilderness time.
Anne, I am so sorry that you are going through a tough time. I am praying for you and your family. Psalm 94:16-19 always gives me peace.
Thank you Churchmouse for your comment this morning. I took a screenshot of it and sent it to my sister who is currently on a tour in Israel. She’s been in a hard season, the bed and breakfast she managed burned in the recent wildfires in Gatlinburg, TN. Has been uprooted and had to move to Florida (we are California girls.) Has been waiting and yearning for this trip and no sooner does she get there, she has to make the hard decision to put her beloved dog down while she is halfway across the world. Your words touched me and I know she will be blessed as well. Sorry for the long post!
It’s as if these words were spoken just for me this morning. Thank you Churchmouse for your faithful prayers.
Spirit driven words…..love them!
Ohhh thank you Churchmouse. Your words lifted my heart this morning.
After reading this today, all I can do is sing, “there’s no place I’d rather be, than here in Your love” (Set a Fire by United Pursuit).
On a totally different note, I have a job interview today! Prayers appreciated :)
Prayers for your job interview, Tochi! I’m off to listen to “Set a Fire” because it’s now in my head :-).
Praying for you in Georgia this morning, Tochi! :-)
Praying for your job interview-didn’t know the song you mentioned but will be adding it to today’s playlist
Thank you, Rebecca! Just fyi, the link reference at the end for 1 Corinthians 13:1 is wrong. Not a big deal if one knows what you’re referencing, but some may not. :)
I saw this too!
Love elevates the mundane to magical! This hit me and I could use dome elevating about now!
That same phrase jumped off the page Susan. My husband and I are trapped in the mundane. We need to remember our love.
Throughout this whole study, but especially today, I haven’t been able to get the song “You Won’t Relent” by Misty Edwards out of my head!
“You won’t relent until you have it all. My heart is yours… I’ll set you as a seal upon my heart, as a seal upon my arm. For there is love that is as strong as death, jealousy demanding as the grave. And many waters cannot quench this love… Come be the fire inside of me, come be the flame upon my heart. Come be the fire inside of me until you and I are one…”
Same here! I didn’t know who it was by, though. Thanks for sharing :)