Daily Devotional

I was religious for the first 29 years of my life. Then I got saved. After that I spent 3 years trying to decide what to do about a church to attend, reading God’s word and praying diligently. And direction came. I spent three more years serving the Lord devotedly, and yet I did not know the central key. It became most clear in those last 6 months, before being called as a pastor to lead a church.

What is it that we are in? We have all had so much teaching, religious talk and experiences. It’s all meaningful, as it was to me. But it’s easy to become mechanical, or itinerary driven in our lives! Things which have good points to them. But there is more.

When I met Lynn in 1967, something happened to my life. Missing pieces were filled in. My future changed. My face took on a new look. I was in love. A love which led to marriage, now in its 57th year.

When I met Jesus in 1976, something happened to my life. Missing pieces were filled in. My future changed. My face took on a new look. I was in love. A love which led to an intimate union with Christ, now it its 50th year.

The Song of Solomon is about a love union between a man and a woman. But is also about a love union between God and human beings, His beloved. One of the most beautiful things we will ever hear from the Lord is declared in that book.

This is, and always shall be, the call of Jesus to our hearts. Arise. Come along. My darling. My beautiful one. Is this too much for our religious dogma? Is it too mystical? What does being God’s beloved mean? The bride of Christ? Ephesians 5:32? Hundreds of other OT & NT such references to a love union with our Lord?

Everything religious, all Christian service, all vigorous work must arise from this experience, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along.” When we go along with Jesus, something happens. Missing pieces are filled in. Our faces take on a new look, our lives a new future. Consider its expression in these verses from Psalm 34.

The first place Jesus takes us to is a place of deliverance. There to make our faces radiant! We move from poverty to salvation, to God’s rescue and encampment about us. To wholeness. This is the first and critical piece of our union, our call to walk with Jesus by faith. It is paramount that we enter into His cocoon of love and there be made whole. “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along.”

The second place Jesus takes us to is a place of empowerment and strength. Even boldness.

He guides us. He prepares our feet. Makes us ready. Calls us to our high places. Trains our hands for battle. His right hand upholds us. He secures our steps. We move forward into our calling.

It all starts with that call, “Arise, my darling.” This walk, this going out with Him becomes the pattern for our lives all our days. This is the one thing we do. Our Christian walk.

Be made whole, TODAY! Be girded and trained, and go out with Him to the battle to which we are called EVERY DAY!! (Psalm 18:37-42). Live in the broad place with Him who delights in you! (Psalm 18:19)


Read: Psalm 34, Psalm 18, Song of Songs 1-2
Sing: Fill My Cup, Lord, by Richard Blanchard

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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