I recently saw the Vow. Apart from some intimate scenes that could have left more to the imagination , overall the plot was appealing.
Based on a true story of husband and wife who end up in a car accident, the wife suffers complete loss of any memories made in the past ten years, including her betrothel to her husband. Throughout the next few weeks and months this man's love does not waver as he embarks on a heroic plight to win her heart once again.
Following this man's tremendous diligence and heart, I could not but think on how often I forget my commitment to my First Love. How often people forget their creator. Not limited to head concussions, cosigning to oblivion of the Godhead is found in our social media, work, family ,and anything else pining for attention. How quickly our Lord fades into the background, as our lives give way for lesser forms of diversions.
Perhaps it stands to be said of you that your diligent seeking has caused an overflow of abundant life to result. But what if I asked, When was the last time you were in awe of God's majesty or humbled to tears at the sight of God become flesh to serve humankind. What about when your heart skipped a beat at the thought of spending time with him. How long has it been since your mind was brought to a place of serenity just at the thought of reading his Word. Daily communion with the Father was what you lived for. And prayer was default mode nothing else.
Sitting in class one morning, a professor stated, "How many Christians fellowship with Jesus, yet do not possess an intimate relationship with Him." How often they go about their lives just getting their goals checked off the list, to meet with him once a week. It has become an informal acquaintance. Lethargy takes full reign, even in the face of such desperation of One who came and endured hours of excruciating pain, suffering rejection that was unparalleld , to be with his creation.
I wonder if at times now he still feels that tinge of hurt every time I choose to sit amidst distracting thoughts and vices instead of his soothing presence .
Driving home one evening after a in depth Bible study on Hosea's life I stared into the abyss of stars that surrounded. Almost immediately the Spirit of God filled my car and with the words "Gomer represents every human heart, my soul resonated with such understanding. Much like Gomer our hearts have tendencies towards everything other than God. Created to worship we tend towards building up mini idols within our lives, constantly seeking after fulfillment. It is in us. Apart from the Spirit of God causing us to love him back with the agape love he so longs for, it is impossible.
In the beginning, God created the earth. Two people existed on it. He walked with them daily. And their relationship was an affinity unmatched. Yet it wasn't enough. Loving God with phileo, or friendship love is never enough. It is not love in the way he desires. Not in the way he deserves. He longs for closeness with us. Like that only found between a husband and wife. A commitment of love. An agape love. Supernatural sacrificial love. A love which can only be given to us by him.
Since the beginning of time, man has chosen pursuit of himself over the pursuit of God. Adam and Eve chose their own desires above him. How often we do this almost unknowingly everyday.
Get outside of yourself for a moment, imagine, creating something with the sole purpose of relationship with you, yet the very relationship for which you sacrifice even your own life, lives for generations to betray and deny your love.
Peter, such zeal and passion for God which was unparalleled yet it would not be enough. On the night the Lord needed him ,most, Peter denies everything to a mere peasant girl.
Jesus, was betrayed, not by a stranger but by one of the twelve. One of his very own.
What rejection met our Lord and yet such endurance displayed, for the joy set before him he chose to die. This is why we can love him. He died to give us Life through his Spirit. And now we can Love. With divine Love.
We love him because he first loved us.
The book of Hosea depicts a story of a prophet told by God to wed a prostitue. Beloved that is exactly what God has done. Come to us. Betrothed himself to us. Knowing we would often run after many other "loves", that even some would never come back to him. Instead of spending time in the word, we go on facebook. I am not by any mean downgrading this social app, however to often it has become an escape for many. and oftentimes my own place of solace when God was standing there waiting with his heart open, longing to share himself. Instead of going and sitting and waiting upon him, we resort to else, when he deserves our very best. Our utmost for his highest.
But the good news is, he wont stop loving you, he wont stop wooing you or drawing you because that is who he is. A lover. He draws us with everlasting chords of love. Hosea 2:14 "therefore behold I will allure her.", speaking of Israel, so precious to God's heart. " I will speak comfort to her in the wilderness." Don't despise those places of wilderness , the desert, places of darkness. God allows those times that you would draw near to him. Allow him to strip you bare and in exchange for ashes he will impart beauty.
I will give her vineyards from there and a valley of achor as a door of hope. He always provides such a sweetness in these seasons. She shall sing there as in the days of her youth. as in the days of her youth as in the days when she came from the Land of Egypt and its in that day says the Lord that you will call me my husband and no longer call me my master.
God has committed himself to us. In marriage, there are vows exchanged between lovers for better or for worse. That is exactly what God has done. He has bound himself up in us and will never let us go. What shall separate us. Nothing can separate you from him.
I have spent the good part of my life running from this sweet call of surrender but now I have raised the white flag to his persistent intxicating love. My king is mine and I am his. I am a slow to learn quite often, but each moment of every waking hour, my lifelong quest is to put him first. To be completely his begins with a choice to be just that. Will you be his today.
In that day I will make a covenant with them.....I will betroth you to me forever. I, (name), take you (name), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.
However In this vow with Him not even death will part! It is eternal.
Based on a true story of husband and wife who end up in a car accident, the wife suffers complete loss of any memories made in the past ten years, including her betrothel to her husband. Throughout the next few weeks and months this man's love does not waver as he embarks on a heroic plight to win her heart once again.
Following this man's tremendous diligence and heart, I could not but think on how often I forget my commitment to my First Love. How often people forget their creator. Not limited to head concussions, cosigning to oblivion of the Godhead is found in our social media, work, family ,and anything else pining for attention. How quickly our Lord fades into the background, as our lives give way for lesser forms of diversions.
Perhaps it stands to be said of you that your diligent seeking has caused an overflow of abundant life to result. But what if I asked, When was the last time you were in awe of God's majesty or humbled to tears at the sight of God become flesh to serve humankind. What about when your heart skipped a beat at the thought of spending time with him. How long has it been since your mind was brought to a place of serenity just at the thought of reading his Word. Daily communion with the Father was what you lived for. And prayer was default mode nothing else.
Sitting in class one morning, a professor stated, "How many Christians fellowship with Jesus, yet do not possess an intimate relationship with Him." How often they go about their lives just getting their goals checked off the list, to meet with him once a week. It has become an informal acquaintance. Lethargy takes full reign, even in the face of such desperation of One who came and endured hours of excruciating pain, suffering rejection that was unparalleld , to be with his creation.
I wonder if at times now he still feels that tinge of hurt every time I choose to sit amidst distracting thoughts and vices instead of his soothing presence .
Driving home one evening after a in depth Bible study on Hosea's life I stared into the abyss of stars that surrounded. Almost immediately the Spirit of God filled my car and with the words "Gomer represents every human heart, my soul resonated with such understanding. Much like Gomer our hearts have tendencies towards everything other than God. Created to worship we tend towards building up mini idols within our lives, constantly seeking after fulfillment. It is in us. Apart from the Spirit of God causing us to love him back with the agape love he so longs for, it is impossible.
In the beginning, God created the earth. Two people existed on it. He walked with them daily. And their relationship was an affinity unmatched. Yet it wasn't enough. Loving God with phileo, or friendship love is never enough. It is not love in the way he desires. Not in the way he deserves. He longs for closeness with us. Like that only found between a husband and wife. A commitment of love. An agape love. Supernatural sacrificial love. A love which can only be given to us by him.
Since the beginning of time, man has chosen pursuit of himself over the pursuit of God. Adam and Eve chose their own desires above him. How often we do this almost unknowingly everyday.
Get outside of yourself for a moment, imagine, creating something with the sole purpose of relationship with you, yet the very relationship for which you sacrifice even your own life, lives for generations to betray and deny your love.
Peter, such zeal and passion for God which was unparalleled yet it would not be enough. On the night the Lord needed him ,most, Peter denies everything to a mere peasant girl.
Jesus, was betrayed, not by a stranger but by one of the twelve. One of his very own.
What rejection met our Lord and yet such endurance displayed, for the joy set before him he chose to die. This is why we can love him. He died to give us Life through his Spirit. And now we can Love. With divine Love.
We love him because he first loved us.
The book of Hosea depicts a story of a prophet told by God to wed a prostitue. Beloved that is exactly what God has done. Come to us. Betrothed himself to us. Knowing we would often run after many other "loves", that even some would never come back to him. Instead of spending time in the word, we go on facebook. I am not by any mean downgrading this social app, however to often it has become an escape for many. and oftentimes my own place of solace when God was standing there waiting with his heart open, longing to share himself. Instead of going and sitting and waiting upon him, we resort to else, when he deserves our very best. Our utmost for his highest.
But the good news is, he wont stop loving you, he wont stop wooing you or drawing you because that is who he is. A lover. He draws us with everlasting chords of love. Hosea 2:14 "therefore behold I will allure her.", speaking of Israel, so precious to God's heart. " I will speak comfort to her in the wilderness." Don't despise those places of wilderness , the desert, places of darkness. God allows those times that you would draw near to him. Allow him to strip you bare and in exchange for ashes he will impart beauty.
I will give her vineyards from there and a valley of achor as a door of hope. He always provides such a sweetness in these seasons. She shall sing there as in the days of her youth. as in the days of her youth as in the days when she came from the Land of Egypt and its in that day says the Lord that you will call me my husband and no longer call me my master.
God has committed himself to us. In marriage, there are vows exchanged between lovers for better or for worse. That is exactly what God has done. He has bound himself up in us and will never let us go. What shall separate us. Nothing can separate you from him.
I have spent the good part of my life running from this sweet call of surrender but now I have raised the white flag to his persistent intxicating love. My king is mine and I am his. I am a slow to learn quite often, but each moment of every waking hour, my lifelong quest is to put him first. To be completely his begins with a choice to be just that. Will you be his today.
In that day I will make a covenant with them.....I will betroth you to me forever. I, (name), take you (name), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.
However In this vow with Him not even death will part! It is eternal.
