I’m reading Passion for Jesus by Mike Bickle … it’s about cultivating an extravagant love for God. I thought it fitting since I’ve recently had this “crisis of faith”, realizing I don’t fully trust this God I serve, and that love and trust go hand in hand for me.
Somewhere in the middle of this book, Bickle starts talking about Song of Songs as a description of the love that exists between Christ and the church. I’ve been parked in Song of Songs the last couple weeks at the suggestion of one of my pastors here in VA. I have to say that Bickle’s interpretation opens up a whole new picture of the love of Christ for us through his writing.
He writes: “Yet she (the Shulamite bride) has ravished the heart of God with her sincere desire to obey Him. This is what happens to Jesus’ heart when we set our souls to fully follow Him at any cost.”
As I was reading this and couldn’t help remembering what a couple of people I’ve recently met have said about me. It went something like, “Your obedience to the Lord is not normal … not everyone hears and obeys.” It always sounds a bit strange to me because hearing and obeying has always been something I’ve just done in regards to my relationship with God. For me, it has so much more to do with respect for God and the commitment I made to follow Him than any feelings of love. To me, obedience does not equal love. It never has. It has always been a sign of respect to God and an honoring of the commitment I made to Him many years ago. Yet, God has said, “If you love me, obey my commands.” (Scrip 1;11)
According to Bickle, the bride’s desire to obey ravishes God’s heart. (Song of Songs 4:9)
I find myself wondering if it’s strange that I’ve reached the place in my walk with God that simply obeying isn’t enough. I’ve realized that I can be obedient and not be submissive – truly trusting God, buying into what He’s asking me to do 100%, believing that He has the best in store for me, because He loves me. Somehow, continuing to do this just doesn’t seem right in light of the fact that I’m learning just how much Christ loves me. I’ve obeyed in the past, trying to quench feelings of resentment and resignation. I don’t want to live like that anymore.
He loves me. I believe that now. Knowing that the God of the universe loves me … there’s so much room to trust. It also means that anything He asks me to do comes out of that place of love.
I want to get to the place where I choose to submit based on that love, and my heart response is obedience.
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have been the older brother in Luke 15. It's good your outcome has been better than his, you've gone inside and joined the party!
I agree Tim ... and may plan a few parties of my own!!
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