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. And then the night watchmen found me as they patrolled the darkened city. “Have you seen my dear lost love?”
I asked. 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. Song of Songs 3:2-4, (The Message)
There is always a passionate pursuit in our relationship with Jesus. It begins with Jesus wooing our hearts-without time constraint or performance clauses. It continues by our daily searching and seeking for He who is constantly romancing our heart. The word picture King Solomon portrays in this passage depicts the wholehearted devotion that must accompany authentic relationship with Jesus. Nothing less will do.
The biggest mistake of my life is when I fall away from first-love devotional desire for Jesus. It is the mistake that gives rise to any and all others. Insidious and slowly, it happens almost undetectable over a period of years. I replace my love affair with Jesus with a professional relationship with Him. How does this happen?
It’s when I focus on head Knowledge about Him instead of heart relationship with Him. The most horrific part; when I become truthful in my inner-most parts, I have to face that I did this willfully. I alone was responsible for the cooling condition of my heart!
But I am frightened, fearing that in some way you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to our Lord, just as Eve was deceived by Satan in the Garden of Eden. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (Living Bible)
I thank God for the shaking in my heart over the course of my journey with Jesus. No matter the cost, He is always worth it! This shaking always rekindles a fresh love affair with Jesus, Papa, and Holy Spirit. I must daily engage Jesus in my heart in the kind of word picture Solomon painted in this scripture. I have to get up and search for Him with the same hot, unrelenting pursuit!
I must respond seamlessly to His desire for me. Then I leave all else for the sake of a focused love affair with Jesus. I submit my heart to corrective discipline in order to keep on this narrow heart path. I can’t breathe until I get Him home in my heart again. And now, I will not let go! I can only hope in my deepest heart the same for you. Hold on tight!
The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you. 2 Corinthians 13: 14 (The Message)
In hot pursuit, Ron Ross