MARRIAGE IS A TEACHING TOOL. Jeremiah 31:20.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inBride of Christ, God DELIGHTS in His ChildrenTags:, , , , , ,

We think romance is the point of life. Far more than half our songs and movies are about romance.

Our culture worships romance like an IDOL. Yet God created romance. Imagine—God Himself created His number-one rival.

He created those feelings, the passion, the electric charge when two hands touch, the sparkle in the eye and the run-away fantasies that can make you crazy before you’ve even met him or her. God understands all of that. And God created marriage to contain all of that, to make sense of it. And to build homes and families.

But marriage is not your life’s purpose.

God created marriage and romance to teach us something about Himself. How many times does the Bible refer to God’s people as His Bride? And what is characteristic of marriage? A deeply felt, life-altering passion AND commitment to another person.

But while we are on this earth, we are not married, but betrothed.

And what is characteristic of the betrothal period?

“Longing” might be the number-one, most common feeling among the engaged the world over. You long for the one to whom you are betrothed. And you know what? Jesus longs for you.

*Incidentally, the scripture’s requirement of abstinence before marriage further underscores the longing that exists between Jesus and His Bride. All those months (or years) you spend engaged and wrestling with self-control before marriage are an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church: throughout our entire lives on earth, we can only long for His presence–and He longs for ours as well. Wrap your mind around that!

In Jeremiah 31, God explains that Israel has betrayed Him, “even though I married them” v.32. He is FULLY COMMITTED to His people. He repeatedly calls them “Virgin.” “Return, Virgin Israel!” Jeremiah 31:21. God says His “inner being longs” for His people, 31:20, and that He delights in them: “I will take delight in them to do what is good for them” 32:41.

God loves you and longs for the day when we will see Him as He is, when He no longer has to hide Himself and His Glory. God LONGS for that day.

And He longs for YOU. Imagine.

God, help us slow down and enjoy the fact that You love us so much that You delight in us, You long for us.

ΑΩ

Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

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