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"
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 :)