The Covenant of Divine Love, Our First Love
Love unites different parties into a relationship of genuine commitment and sincere devotion to each other. Of note, there is a love that is above any other. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This kind was here before you and I existed, long before the world of what is common to us came into existence. Divine love has always been there for us to enjoy and glory in, even before we could deserve it, not that we ever can. This is further expressed in John 15:13 when Jesus told His disciples that there is no greater love apart from that which is seen when one lays down his life for his own friends. By ‘friends’, Jesus meant you, me, and everyone who would believe in Him to receive His gift of salvation. This is without doubt the greatest kind of love that mankind will ever know.
With this love that no mind can fathom, we have entered a brand-new covenant with Christ Jesus. “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him” (2 Corinthians 11:2 NIV). You and I have become the Lord’s priceless and beautiful bride from that very day we confessed our faith in Him. And like a married couple is called to practice faithfulness to each other, so are we called to a life of absolute consecration to our first Love. This is a call to renew our commitment to the truest love we received.
"You and I have become the Lord’s priceless and beautiful bride from that very day we confessed our faith in Him."
Our beloved Groom, Jesus Christ, promised us that He went to prepare a place where we would eternally live with Him (John 14:3). While we wait for His glory to be revealed at His return, our lives should not be used to create ties with the evil one by allowing unrighteousness to multiply within us. We must refuse to indulge ourselves in sexual immorality, pride, anger, hate, and the like because this proves us unfaithful to our Groom. Truth is, we cannot choose to belong to Christ and yet continually give in to the lustful desires of our flesh (Matthew 6:24). On the contrary, let us strive to be like the five wise virgins who made sure that their lamps had enough oil while they waited for the bridegroom to come (Matthew 25:1-11). May we not resemble the foolish virgins who were rejected by the bridegroom because their waiting lacked readiness.
As we wait for our Beloved to return, let us not grow weary and turn our backs on Him for His love and what He endured for us is worth the wait. The nail marks on His feet and hands truly deserve that we remain watchful. Isaiah 40:31 promises us that we won’t faint as we wait upon Him because our strength will be renewed. “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—” (Jude 1:24 NIV). As we eagerly await for our Beloved to appear to us from heaven (Philippians 3:20), we ought to be consistent in our quest for knowing what pleases Him (Ephesians 5:10) through our speech, thoughts, personality, and relationships, to mention a few. Let us therefore be clothed with unceasing prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), and walking in the Spirit until the day He returns (Galatians 5:16). The life we live until then should be a platform to display our love for Him, who deserves our fullest attention. For we truly do not know when He is to appear, let us stay sober minded and ready (Matthew 25:13)! The groom will not tarry in returning to His pricelessly redeemed bride, behold, He is coming and soon (Hebrews 10:37).
Arise O bride of God,
clothe yourself with His holiness and crown yourself with the power of His Spirit
that your beloved will find you faithful and trustworthy to embrace His glory
for eternity at His glorious return.
"As we wait for our Beloved to return, let us not grow weary and turn our backs on Him for His love and what He endured for us is worth the wait."
This hope of dwelling in the presence and glory of God for eternity is strictly reserved to those who have accepted to die to self and let Christ reign in their lives. I invite you to pray with me if you are convicted that Christ Jesus isn’t the Lord of your life and would like to be counted worthy of reigning with Him when He returns:
Jesus Christ,
For a very long time I’ve lived a life of lies,
A life where I fetched from wells that can never quench my thirst,
A life that treasures darkness and honors wickedness.
A life that treasures darkness and honors wickedness.
Please forgive me.
Please come into my life,
Take control of my existence,
Be my personal Lord and Savior.
From today on, let it be no more of me but of You in all measures.
In Christ Jesus I pray and believe, Amen.
