Pearls of Great Value

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine! Song of Solomon 8:3

Love. Who doesn't adore a good love story? The hero swoops in to save the damsel in distress. The epic battle between the two warriors, the fight for a heart. Those beats in time where your heart is pounding in exhilaration. The joy of the victory, the tender moments. Every love story has them. And from the beginning of time to now our hearts can't resist it. We can't withstand the attraction to experiencing a great love. 

By far though, I think the best love story ever told is Jesus' story. Our story. He came from afar, left a royal and peaceful kingdom, and came to this dismal land to rescue me. Came not only to save me from the darkness I was in, from this prison of sin but also transported me into His kingdom of light. He gave me freedom! Wait! It gets better. He didn't just meet me where I was at, but went above and beyond to restore and redeem me. Gave me back the beauty I had lost and the hope that I didn't know was missing. He poured love on a dry and thirsty heart. Brought life blooming to a bleak desert place. And where once it was gray and lonely, it is now bursting with color and companionship. I don't know how, but He is a great redeemer, redeeming the time and moments that were stolen. Yes! His love is a timeless love story. 

 One of the most captivating love stories in the bible is found in the Song of Songs. This warrior isn't afraid to pour out his heart, to woo his beloved and he goes to great lengths to describe her beauty to his friends. Listen to these words and let Jesus speak His love for you into your heart. Are you ready to be wooed? Here we go! 

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Behold, how beautiful you are, my darling, Behold, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are dove’s eyes.” 1:15

‭‭My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. 2:10

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 For you reach into my heart. With one flash of your eyes I am undone by your love, my beloved, my equal, my bride. You leave me breathless— I am overcome by merely a glance from your worshiping eyes, for you have stolen my heart. I am held hostage by your love and by the graces of righteousness shining upon you. 4:9

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 You are a fountain of gardens. A well of living water springs up from within you, like a mountain brook flowing into my heart!  4:15

He alone is my beloved. He shines in dazzling splendor yet is still so approachable— without equal as he stands above all others, outstanding among ten thousand!  The way he leads me is divine. His leadership—so pure and dignified as he wears his crown of gold. Upon this crown are letters of black written on a background of glory.  He sees everything with pure understanding. How beautiful his insights—without distortion. His eyes rest upon the fullness of the river of revelation, flowing so clean and pure. Looking at his gentle face, I see such fullness of emotion. Like a lovely garden where fragrant spices grow — what a man! No one speaks words so anointed as this one — words that both pierce and heal, words like lilies dripping with myrrh. See how his hands hold unlimited power! But he never uses it in anger, for he is always holy, displaying his glory. His innermost place is a work of art— so beautiful and bright. How magnificent and noble is this one— covered in majesty! 5:10-14

His love is flaming. His love is epic. It's His love that inspires me. It's His love that teaches me how to love and be loved. Is it extraordinary? Yes! It is! It's beautiful! Incredibly extravagant. And I pray that I will always be in awe of it. 

Think about it. I find it challenging to love the ones who hurt me, but Jesus loves people who not only hurt him, but mock him, strike him, and eventually kill him. He is denied by one of his closest friends and betrayed by his disciple and still, his love is greater than the wrong done against him. Jesus loves! That's what He is and does. Loving the most lovable and the most unlovable in society and not out of some sense of obligation but with genuine love. It's amazing.

Yes, we can say His love is supernatural. And it is. But we can't sit back and deny that we don't have access to the same love, because we do. Jesus' experiences were not felt as God, but he experienced those things as a fully human man. He felt the pain of the whip. He felt the sting of hurtful words. Knowing what was coming didn't lessen the degree of shame, hurt, and pain. Knowing the full of time and every person and generation, knowing their feeble hearts and sinful intentions, doesn't diminish His love for mankind. It's a bit unreal. Too incredible for words. Yet there it is.

So if you want a love story, how about this one? How about the love of God? A love that lays down His life to save His beloved. A love that reaches beyond the highest height and the lowest depth and says, "You are mine!  I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, I have loved you with an everlasting love. You are MY beloved!"

Maybe you think that you have never experienced His love. Maybe you have gotten busy with life and failed to see his gifts of goodness around you. Maybe you are going through loss, loss of a loved one, loss of a dream, loss of a job. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that life has hurt you. The pain you feel is real and I will not try to diminish it with words. I will say this though. Don't stay in that valley too long? Come out and boldly proclaim His name and love over you. Come into His presence and ask Him for the desires of your heart. Ask him for an experience. Ask him for those things you are afraid to ask for. And let Him be the mediator of what you need or don't. He knows your heart better than you do. 

Experiences in life may have hurt you, but He never has. He has been faithful. For I  know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!

Sometimes choosing to follow Christ brings us to trials and to experience painful things. I pray that in those moments His peace will flood your heart and soul and guard you. And I pray that in every circumstance you will know the depths of His love for you. His love will not fail you. It will not! May it sweep over your heart today in waves. I pray for that. I pray that the eyes of your heart will be opened to know and experience Him.

He died on a cross for you, because He loves and wants to be with you forever. He is asking. You can say yes to Him today! You can be His from now until eternity. He wants to pour out healing, hope-filled, joyful love on you. Will you say yes?

Today, I pray that will not forget this: You are the apple of Someone's eye. His name is Jesus. And He is the greatest love you'll ever know. 

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 It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, To those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word]. It is good that one waits quietly For the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:22-26