“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” Song of Songs 6:3 (NIV)
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (NIV)
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 (NIV)
Have you ever heard preachers address the congregation as “Friends,” “Brothers and Sisters,” or “Beloved”? Did you ever notice how the Apostle John referred to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved?” (See John 13:23, John 19:26, John 21:7, John 21:20.) Have you ever cringed when you were called one of these endearments? Perhaps you are not confident in real love.
What is it about the word “love” that often makes us disassociate with real love? It is misused as we proclaim that we “love” fajitas, a windy day for sailing on the lake, or that movie actor we have never met. Media and movies show us romantic love that doesn’t last. We receive rejections in relationships and build protective walls around our hearts to shield us from more hurt. But have we ever let ourselves experience Jesus’ real love?
The Bible book, Song of Songs, is a love song to model and draw the Bride of Christ to our Bridegroom, Jesus. It is a type and shadow of the deep love that Jesus desires with each of us as the chosen Bride. There is resounding acceptance and adoration repeated through its stanzas. It is a love letter from Jesus to you. You are accepted, chosen, adorned with beauty inside and outwardly, and so loved. This is genuine love – the kind that would cause your faithful friend to choose to be sacrificed on the cross - in your place. He has redeemed and freed you to love Him fully and share that love with others. He is reflected to others in your kindness, service, and sacrifices.
Like John, you can call yourself the “one whom Jesus loves.” Let the wall you’ve built around your heart come down. Step into the genuine love from 1 Corinthians 13. You will receive greater reward as you grow in patience, kindness, humility, serving others, and rejoicing in their blessings. As you set yourself to love more unselfishly, your trust grows. Your relationship with Jesus develops deeply. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 guides us, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
*** If you feel your heart has grown cold toward others or that you are holding a relationship with Jesus at arm’s length, pray this simple prayer to be restored:
Dear Heavenly Father, I confess that my heart has grown cold, and I am not as close to Jesus as I desire. I realize this makes you sad and holds me back. I repent and ask You to cleanse me. I renounce the lies holding me back. I submit to You and resist the enemy. I receive Your love today, and it will not fail me. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen. ***
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