The Decision預覽

Day 2: Trusting the relationship 

Yesterday, we talked about the bad news that comes along with compromising God’s will in order to get what we want. But trusting God is hard. How do we trust God enough to make difficult decisions?  

Wande’s song, “Love for you” points to God’s love for us as the only answer:

Intimacy missing and I know the one you need. 

Steady filling voids with them temporary cravings. 

You should just get lost all in this love, call it amazing.  

You don’t just have to take her word for it. Consider another song in Scripture, the Song of Songs.

Song of Songs is the Bible’s long erotic love poem. Many Christian scholars interpret Song of Songs as a long conceit in which King Solomon represents Christ and the Shulamite bride represents the body of believers. In ancient times, a woman of low social standing like the Shulamite could not marry Solomon on her own volition. The king was the one who first chose her and exalted her above queens and concubines, above all other women.  He did it not because he had to, but because he wanted to; he loved her.  

Love is the reason God chose us, and love is the only way to respond. 

Like Song of Songs, the Gospel is a love story. It is Christ’ deep penetrating love and steadfast devotion to us that gives us the ability to trust God even when we have to make tough decisions. We don’t have to worry about the outcome when we trust our companion. His love is as Wande describes:

My love for you burns like a fire. 

All facts baby, I am not a liar. 

I’m always going out my way 

‘cause to see you win is my desire. 

Meditate on the following scripture: In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  1 John 4: 9-10. (5 minutes)

Read about the love the King has for his Shulamite bride. (Song of Solomon 1:8-10; 1:15; 2:2; 4:1-16; 5:1; 6:4-10; 7:1-9; 8:13)  (30 minutes) 

Reflect on the following: (10 minutes)

1. It is common to think about God as a judge and a king but do you also see Him as a husband who delights in his bride? What would change in your life if you saw the King of the universe as he sees himself, like a husband? What would you stop fearing? What would you start celebrating?
2. If it’s hard for you to believe that you are God’s beloved, pray this simple prayer and listen for what the Holy Spirit says: King of Creation, I struggle to believe that the Master of Time and Space also longs for me like a husband longs for his bride. I have done ugly things, yet you call me the most beautiful. How, Lord? Instead of focusing on self-condemnation, I choose to focus on how wonderful a gift your love is. Thank you for your eye of grace, your promise of devotion, and your hand of blessing upon me. Thank you for binding me on your heart.  

I would love to hear your reflection answers! Text them to me: 404-495-7729

Listen to “Love for you.”