ABIDING IS OUR WORK

“You don’t play a game or color a picture with a child to show your superiority. Rather, you choose to limit yourself so as to facilitate and honor that relationship. You will even lose a competition to accomplish love. It is not about winning and losing [or getting work done], but about love and respect” Wm. Paul Young (ref#384, p106).

This is exactly what JESUS does with me—limits Himself—put Himself on the same level as I—“emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:7 NASB).

He skips down the hallway, sticks His head in my office door and says, [L]et us go out to the countryside” (Song of Songs 7:11 NIV). He takes great delight seeing my reaction in our relationship. Wm. Paul Young (ref#384, p106)

And my reaction would be summed up in the main character’s remarks in Young’s book as he does the dishes with JESUS: “[If I] could just keep listening to [Him], [I] would be thrilled to do dishes the rest of my life” Wm. Paul Young (ref#384, p108).

“Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills” (Song of Songs 2:8 ESV).

 “My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away” (Song of Songs 2:10 ESV).

“As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love” (Song of Songs 2:3-4 ESV).

“Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me” (Song of Songs 2:5-6 ESV)!