READING:
One-year plan: Song of Solomon, chs. 1-8
Two-year plan: Isaiah 22-23, Philippians 1:1-11
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I’m not convinced that we can come up with words that fully describe what happens when God brings together a man and woman and unites them. Even the wording seems strange to us: “the two become one.” How that happens is a mystery of God — and yet too many of us miss the miracle of a man’s becoming “my beloved” to his wife (Song 1:13), and her becoming “my love” to her husband (Song 1:9).
Indeed, God gives spouses a love for each other that “is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away” (Song 8:6-7). Godly love is as persistent and pursuing as death is, and its passion is like the fire of the Lord Himself. Its jealousy comes only from a deep undying love, and the floods cannot overtake it. This kind of love is unquenchable — so powerful and transforming that one could not purchase it with “all the wealth of one’s house” (Song 8:7b).
To take this relationship for granted — which many of us do — is sinful indeed.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: If you are married, do you ever take that relationship for granted?
PRAYER: “God, thank You for my spouse today.”
TOMORROW’S READING:
One-year plan: Isaiah 1-6
Two-year plan: Isaiah 24-25, Philippians 1:12-30
MEMORIZATION VERSE (July 16-31)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov 3:5-6)
*first published in 2016