ERCC DEVOTIONAL (TEKAN) DAILY SPIRITUAL DIET MONDAY 28TH AUGUST, 2023
TEXT: SONG OF SONGS 3: 1 - 11
SPIRITUAL FOCUS: THE BRIDE LONGS TO SEE THE GROOM.
If we look at the studies we have done, the groom is homeless. Likewise, the Church's bridegroom, Christ Jesus, said, "Yea, the foxes have holes, and the bride of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where lay His head" (Matt. 8: 20).
In the reading, the bride dreams of the groom, misses him, calls but there is no answer (verse 1). Because of the intense love she went out to look for him in the streets without fear. When she found him, she refused to let him go so that she would not lose him again. It is good to imitate the attitude of the bride like the man who found the pearl, sold all his possessions and bought the field (Matt. 13:47).
The Lord has given us the treasure of the Savior, Christ Jesus, to hold fast to Him and to be with Him always. Just as the bride does not want anyone to come between her and the groom, let us not allow sin, suffering, persecution, and lust to separate us from Jesus Christ. It is a pity that today there are so many followers of Christ who do not care about the grace that the Lord has given them. They squander grace on the kind of life they lead.
They do not want to be friends with Him, they do not know Him, they do not obey Him. Their goal is to have fun and enjoy the world that will pass away with all its "pleasures". Brethren, now is the time and the opportunity to reconcile with the Lord.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Couples, longing for each other is the joy of marriage.
PRAYER: Lord God, I beg You, take away the affects of hatred in my marriage so that Your name may be glorified, Amen.
SONG OF SONGS 3: 1 - 11 (MSG).
1 Restless in bed and sleepless through the night, I longed for my lover. I wanted him desperately. His absence was painful.
2 So I got up, went out and roved the city, hunting through streets and down alleys. I wanted my lover in the worst way! I looked high and low, and didn't find him.
3 And then the night watchmen found me as they patrolled the darkened city. "Have you seen my dear lost love?" I asked.
4 No sooner had I left them than I found him, found my dear lost love. I threw my arms around him and held him tight, wouldn't let him go until I had him home again, safe at home beside the fire.
5 Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe--and you're ready.
6 What's this I see, approaching from the desert, raising clouds of dust, Filling the air with sweet smells and pungent aromatics?
7 Look! It's Solomon's carriage, carried and guarded by sixty soldiers, sixty of Israel's finest,
8 All of them armed to the teeth, trained for battle, ready for anything, anytime.
9 King Solomon once had a carriage built from fine-grained Lebanon cedar.
10 He had it framed with silver and roofed with gold. The cushions were covered with a purple fabric, the interior lined with tooled leather.
11 Come and look, sisters in Jerusalem. Oh, sisters of Zion, don't miss this! My King-Lover, dressed and garlanded for his wedding, his heart full, bursting with joy!
