You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2023.
You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way. Song of Songs 4:7
I love officiating at weddings. I get a view that few others do. To my left is the groom, who sees his bride coming to him down the aisle dressed like a princess. Traditionally, he has not seen the dress on her (an added plus in my opinion). I get to see his look of love, passion, and awe. Sometimes I even see tears.
I get to see the bride. Every girl dreams of someday being a princess, and today is her chance! She seems to radiate as she walks towards us. Sometimes, there are tears of joy in her eyes as well.
Today, many live together before marriage, and while I don’t think that is God’s best, it doesn’t change the scenario. The groom sees his bride with new eyes.
If 1 Corinthians 13 is the love chapter, Song of Solomon is the ‘love book’. It is really a passionate conversation between a groom and his bride. It’s also symbolic of Jesus (our groom) and his bride (the body of Christ). Song of Solomon 4:7 shows the view Jesus has of his bride…that’s you remember.
The groom writes, “You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way. ” What a stunning reflection of the groom to his bride. He says we are beautiful in every way.
He doesn’t see our sin. He doesn’t see our faults. Because of what Jesus did for you on the cross he only sees the beauty in you. He knows your sin better than you do, but that doesn’t change how he sees you. He loves you just the way you are, yet works in you to help you conquer all the blemishes.
I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:33
It’s all about me. That seems to be the mantra our culture lives under. Yet Living for Christ means that I live for others. When you are watching TV and the accompanying commercials, take a look at how many times you can say ‘this is all about me’.
Every commercial screams at you to buy this toy, or eat this food, or engage in this activity to better YOU. Marketing experts have become experts at tugging at our heartstrings, of making us see the perfectly good phone in our hands as being obsolete or worthless because it doesn’t fold, or have as nice a camera, or, well, you get the ideal.
How utterly absurd to think you’d go out in public with that old phone, or drive that car that may have a rust spot! If others are blessed by our actions, that’s good, but the reality is, we want to feel good about ourselves.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun to have nice things. It’s fun to engage in activities that make us feel good. But the Apostle Paul teaches us a different way.
In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul teaches about how we can live lives that reach out to others. We tend to be so afraid someone may have more than we do, so worried that others may have better toys, more money, or more advantages over us. But Paul’s efforts are to live in peace with everyone and to consistently and intentionally do things to make the lives of others better.
We may not be appreciated. Some may misunderstand our actions, but our goal should always be to show the love of Jesus in our actions, understanding and generosity.
So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world Lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.” Mark 10:42
We are a society that celebrates power. Strength is worshiped, weakness is looked down upon. Nothing has really changed from when Jesus walked on earth. He points out that worldly leaders ‘lord’ it over those under them.
To ‘lord’ it over others really means that we show them no value. The leader who ‘lords’ it over others sends a message that they are far more valuable than anyone else.
Not only do they show they don’t value others, but they aren’t shy about it! They use every opportunity to show everyone that THEY are in charge. They flaunt their position like a huge banner for everyone to see.
Worldly leaders claim the decisions they make on ‘our behalf’ will help us. Yet, it seems like their promises rarely come true or benefit us in the way we hope. Every political season we hear the promises of better times ahead and we rarely see results.
When Jesus says there is power in service it means that the decisions of a servant-leader always make decisions that benefit us. We may not see it at first, but time proves purpose. Jesus can use the bad we experience to bring about good things.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 