© 20 Colin Melbourne
The Way of a Man with a Maid
There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Proverbs 30:18-19, Luke 22:39-42 KJV
How Shall I Compare Thee?
A young man woos a maid by gifts and charm, in order that she yields to his advances.
Slippery Slopes
When a punter engages a prostitute she yields herself for his money and favours.
Adulterers seduce into sin by flattery and deception.
Satan and demons tempt people to rebel, against our Creator, by lies and compulsion, causing sinners to become entangled even deeper in sin.
Wooing, seduction, and temptation, are in reality unwitting forms of coercion: Ignoble at best.
Such tactics are far from the way God moves on a heart.
How did the LORD draw you?
It certainly was not through; beauty, charm, bribery, deceit, temptation, or compulsion: God relies on divine love, in truth, by His Spirit: They are always pure and sufficient.
A “conquest” is only right when a maiden marries in the LORD, and yields herself wholeheartedly of her own volition; that is, she desires you from sincere love, as much as you desire her from the same motive.
However, human love is not divine love: They are light years apart.
You have experienced human love during your life, both as recipient and benefactor: But compare that “love” with your experience of God’s love in The LORD Jesus Christ.
Has any lover ever laid down their life for you, loved you when there was nothing lovely in you?
Loved even as you drove nails through him into the cross on which he laid down his life for you?
No Other Love Compares
No, you are still looking for such love, but you will only find it in The LORD Jesus Christ.
Even if you were to find “Mr. Perfect”, and he willingly exchanged his life for your sin, his sacrifice would be of no avail in God’s sight, because his blood was sinful, warranting death for his own sin.
But Christ’s Blood was, and remains, sinless: God manifest in The Flesh willingly poured out His Life Blood to redeem you from every claim Justice could ever have against you.
Christ’s Sacrifice is the only offering God accepts for the sins of mankind
Nothing else will ever take its place: It is perfect and complete.
The only condition is to repent from unbelief and believe on Christ as your LORD and Redeemer.
The Inside Information
And when you have done that, you will know Him personally, inside the core of your being: You will receive His; Life, Peace, Healing, and everything He died to give you.
A Brand New Creature
Then exciting changes occur in your heart: You become a brand new creature from the inside out.
Yes LORD!
Because you now love Him who first loved you, you reciprocate His love: You walk in His love, you follow His love.
You do as your new LORD leads you.
As His Spirit leads your spirit, you yield to Him, doing as He desires.
You choose to do so from love, in truth, from your heart, with all your heart.
He held nothing back to redeem you: Therefore, you hold nothing back in obeying Him.
You yield your all to Him, always: To hesitate and quibble is not Lordship, it is vanity and rebellion.
Jesus is now your LORD: So it is your delight to prove it by honouring His leading always, in everything.
This is the way He leads, and loves His own.
Amen
© 20 Colin Melbourne
