Scripture Text: Song of Solomon 1:6
Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
because the sun has looked upon me.
My mother's sons were angry with me;
they made me keeper of the vineyards,
but my own vineyard I have not kept!
Song of Solomon 1:6
Some of the things in this world that any person would seek are acceptance, security, and belongingness. All of these are found in the love of the most lovely being, Jesus Christ our Lover-Redeemer. His love is something that everyone should know intimately and personally! His love is unchanging, never ceasing, and something that we can never truly describe. This love is freely given and never dependent on anything but to Him and His decision alone. He has loved whom He loves not because there is anything commendable of praise or honor. This love doesn’t look upon anything. This is part of the mystery of love, and the love of our Lover-Redeemer – God is love.
That is why it is really true, and that we should believe it constantly that if we are not His beloved [bride of Christ/Recipient of God’s everlasting love], then we have nothing and we are actually nothing! That is why it must be our goal and aim that we may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Keep on remembering that His heart for you, an open gate! It is wide as far as the east is from the west. He loves you—He loves you peculiarly, dear saint! We may be one with the bride in her shy cry “Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me (v.6a).” We may be ashamed of our life because of our past and current sins, we may be ashamed of every hidden sin, we may even think that we are the chief sinner, but take heart! Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost! As a matter of fact, just to be reminded, God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! God is keenly aware of every skeleton in the closet, nevertheless He has fixed His heart towards you! He does not look at you with mean scorn or disdain. It is always with His great and deep and rich love towards you!
“My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept (v.6b)!” Any deformity that we think because of the marks of our past sins has nothing to do with God’s mind and heart towards us. Remember, God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? We may be intensely aware of our own ugliness, our own disqualifications, nevertheless He has fixed His heart towards you, dear saint! You belong in His comely heart!
You are accepted not because of who you are, but because of who He is! You have assurance because of His unchanging and steadfast covenantal-love, and you are His – for you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
What is stopping you from coming closer and closer to Him? To His heart? You are more than welcome there, dear saint!
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Come to Him with your littleness and weaknesses, come just as who you are. Come and see His comely heart! Our Lover-Redeemer knows what you’ve been through, and He himself will dry our tears.
Hear this then dear saint—Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Desire communion with Him, who has loved us eternally! Thirst and long for Him! Be in awe of Him – the darling of Heaven! He is all yours… He is all-perfect, all-holy, all-glorious and all-happy! Be exceedingly joyous in being His beloved. If you have truly seen Him, then He is your exceeding joy.
Nobody loves you like He does…
Christ is all that we have! Christ is all that we need!
Take heart, dear saint!
Reflect
1. Do you have confidence in Christ who has loved you eternally?
2. Do you find your security and belongingness in His heart for you?
3. Do you desire and long to love Him more, as you ought to be?
Remember
The love of Christ is what we truly need here and hereafter. While we are awaiting His return, His love is what will complete our joy in our lives. This is our comfort and confidence.
Read
Psalm 103:11-13; Isaiah 1:18; Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Pray
Father, we come to You in prayer, in the name of Your Son, to once again ask for this day onward the greatest thing that we could ever ask from You—to behold the wonders of the beauties of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We know that He is our best portion, and in Him we can find the highest of all delight and the deepest of all pleasures. We thank You, Father, for in Him Your love was manifested perfectly, Your grace and mercy has been poured out towards us. We just pray, Father, that You may grant us the confidence in coming near to You through Him, our only Mediator. That we might find our belongingness in His heart alone, that we may have the strength to turn away from the things of this world, and just go after Him, tracking His light and His love. We ask this in His beautiful name. Amen.
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