Dear Friend,

 

God’s longing towards humanity is astounding. He has placed a banner above our heads declaring,  “I love you!  I want all to know of my passionate love towards you.”

 

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.     (SOS 2:4)

 

 He cares for each and every one of us so very much.  His thoughts are filled with the details of our lives.  His care and concern for people knows no limits.  He is utterly ravished with love toward us.  Again and again in the Word He reminds us of His passionate and loving care for His children.  He is ever attentive to any response we have toward Him.  The Song of Songs is a poetic expression of God’s love for His children, of Christ’s love for His Church.  This is Christ’s expression of love in the details.  This is how he sees us, His Bride.  Let’s look at a few verses.

 

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.    (SOS 1:15)

 

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.  2  Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.   3  Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.   4  Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.     (SOS 4:1-4)

 

Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.     (SOS 4:7)

 

The Song of Songs is filled with such descriptive language concerning Christ and the Church.  He is utterly consumed with passion toward us!

 

Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.     (SOS 4:9)

 

Ravished is such a strong word.  He is utterly consumed with love toward us.  We have captured the heart of God.  Any response, the slightest glance towards Him is a wondrous delight to the Father’s heart.  He says,  “one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.”  One slight turn of the neck towards Jesus and His heart does a loop de loop!

 

His love has been poured out on a world that disregards him and has turned their backs to him.  Is it any wonder that a great joy and rejoicing goes forth in heaven when one sinner repents?

 

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.    (Luke 15:7)

 

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.   (Luke 15:10)

 

With so much passion and attention  from God toward us, you would think our response would be much greater towards Him, yet throughout the Word we see the indifference and insensitivity of the Church.  Israel was a type of the Church.  Again and again God stretches forth His hand to a people that will not requite His love.  Paul speaks of Israel’s response in Romans.

 

Rom 10:21-  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

 

Throughout the Old Testament the scriptures comment on Israel’s response.

 

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

(Pr 1:24)

 

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;   (Isa 65:2) 

 

I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.    (Jer 35:15)

 

Jesus mentions His rebuff by Israel in the Gospels:

 

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:   35      That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.     (Mt 23:34-35)

 

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!     (Matt 23:37)

 

Paul speaks of Israel’s response in the Book of Acts.

 

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.   47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.   (Ac 13:46,47)

 

Stephen, before He is stoned to death rebukes the Jews for their lack of response to the salvation offered them.

 

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.   52  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:      (Ac 7:51,52)

 

This lack of response is not limited to Israel but The epistles deal with the lack of passionate response on the part of the Church!  James pulls no punches in dealing with the indifference of Believers.

 

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  5     Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?    (James 4:4-5)

 

John speaks of idols in the life of Believers.  An idol can be anything that draws our attention away from our love and service to God.  Believers who do not make the local church a priority are in reality, idolaters.  They have allowed something or someone to take the place of worship.  Whether you are in Church or not your money should be there.  Jesus said, “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also!”  (Matt 6:21)  If you are not faithfully supporting your local church and ministry in the Body of Christ you are an idolater!  

 

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.     (1 John 5:21)

 

Paul warns of the evils of idolatry.  

 

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.   (1 Cor 10:14)

 

Jesus warns the Church in the book of Revelation to return to Him.

To the Church of Ephesus Jesus urges them to rekindle the flame of love.

 

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  (Rev 2:4-5)

 

Friend, Respond to his Love.  Don’t be found guilty of not responding to God’s great love for you.  If you have drifted away, return to him with a passionate response.  He loves you and is ready to receive you again with open arms.  His reward is with Him.  Serve him and you will be blessed.  Put Him first and He will prosper your way.  James tells us it is our move.  We are to draw near to Him. The ball is in our court.  God is waiting patiently for a response to His love! 

 

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  10     Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.   (James 4:8-10)

 

 

        Your  Friend,

 

 

          Gary