Tues.’s Devo - The Mature Church

Read: Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-5-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25 The young man enters his garden but his bride is asleep and doesn’t want to be inconvenienced. This reminds me of Jesus’ night at Gethsemene when he was in deep travail and wanted his disciples to pray with him. They could not stay awake though they wanted to. When Jesus died, they longed for him to be with them. They were as devastated as the woman in Song of Solomon. When she finally finds her lover, he is not mad at her but only has kind loving words for her, much like Jesus’ words to Peter after he denied him three times. How often does the Holy Spirit call us to come and spend time with him and we are in a stupor of spiritual slumber. We don’t have the time or want to make the time. Yet, when we do, we don’t get condemnation we get acceptance and grace. In chapter seven, he describes the healthy on-fire Church. Everything about her is beautiful and developed to perfection. We satisfy Jesus. In chapter eight, the bride comes from the desert leaning on her lover and she is unrecognizable because of the change that has happened in her. This is the end-time church. She knows who she is and she knows that when her lover looks at her he is pleased. She knows her place and what is legally hers. She is not a tenant farmer who rents from God, she has received her full inheritance and it is hers. She is an example to others. In Second Corinthians, Paul brags on the church there because they have always been givers that have been examples to other churches. He encourages them to have their gift ready and to give generously as they have been blessed. In giving, they will be given more seed to produce more to give. Lord, help us to be spiritually awake and alive. May all that we have be yours to use however you want.