What's in it for Jesus?

Not long ago God asked me a question. "Cindy, why do you think faith is important to me?" To be honest, I had never thought about it. There's a lot of benefits to faith on my end, that's for sure. But what's in it for Jesus?

Song of Solomon 6:11&12 is a strange passage. "I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom. Before I realized it, my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people." Before you're tempted to click to another blog, hang on. God is describing what life is like on his side of eternity and that should interest you. It's not a lofty passage about heaven. No, this text is about what God does with his day. This is about your faith and how it moves the heart of God.

In the valley of this fallen world lies a garden that is a true source of delight for the Lord - his prize, in fact. Some would say it's more like his office where he reviews daily progress reports, assessing if his plan is working. Today's stats are really encouraging. Buds and blooms are promising signs that confident identity is growing. "At last, it's not about what they do, but who they are." And God smiles, even chuckles at the thought.

Have you ever been in one place with your body and another place with your heart? My pastor often comments on the intense feelings of love he has for us whenever he's on a mission trip. Somehow, the distance causes significant endearment to surface for his flock. It can be an amazing trip just loaded with the exciting move of God but his love for our church is a distinct distraction, reserved for a special group of people. That's just what God is feeling as he takes a daily walk through the spiritual garden. He gets the latest news updates and it's so encouraging that he just can't stay in the office any longer. He has to be on the floor where the people are, where all the action is. (I know we don't ride chariots but you get the point.) We have a God who loves humanity. I even think he misses earth.

To be Christian is to exist in faith; it is our position in Christ. But don't forget that the purpose of faith is to transport you to the love experience. I'm sure God admires the energy of faith, the amount of investment it takes to believe. But it isn't because he enjoys giving you an "A" for effort at the end of the day. What's in it for Jesus? The hope for a companion. God longs for your friendship. Interestingly, friendship does not require a lot of faith. Why? Because a friend's love is sure. "I enjoy you" is reinforced over time and faith in the friendship blossoms into confidence. There's just less and less need for confirmation. Let faith take you to Jesus so relationship can bloom.

Love Was Never Meant to be Lived by Faith

When I first read the Song of Solomon - no, let's just say when I first looked at the Song I really thought the book made it into the Bible by mistake. Cleavage, pomegranates and gazelles just did not fit into a meaningful category under any religious title. The book isn't even quoted by any other author of the Bible - including Jesus. You read the book and let me know what you think. I can guarantee a reaction of surprise, maybe even shock. The sensual imagery jumps off the page and you can almost hear a little old lady saying, "Oh my." What was God thinking when he inspired Solomon to write this book? (It is inspired, you know.)

I don't have a "Thus, saith the Lord" answer but I can tell you after marinating in the passages I think God wants us to know that love is full of emotions. Just about every line of the poem stimulates one of our five senses. "While the king was at his table, my perfume spread it's fragrance." (1:12) is just one example. Don't just read the words, smell them. Can you imagine sitting at a table with someone whose fragrance fills the room? Without a doubt they would become the center of attention, and a pleasant one at that. Or how about 4:2? "Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each one has its twin; not one of them is alone." Now how's that for a visual? This woman was not chewing on a corn cob pipe. Just about any woman with teeth qualified her as attractive in ancient Palestine. There's a banqueting table with all sorts of flavors in 2:4 and abundant references to touch throughout the book. We are even privy to private conversations these two lovers share on the journey called"intimacy". The overwhelming message God is sending is: love was meant to be tangible!

I think the church is more in love with faith than we are with love. Faith is important; I know it's impossible to please God without it. But I don't think God had faith in mind when he designed us for love. Faith helps us get to love but don't let faith define your experience. There's SO much more to love! Love was never meant to be lived by faith. After all, who gets excited about someone saying, "I love you by faith"? If at some point you don't feel loved, what motivates you to keep the relationship?

There are times in married life when I don't feel in love with my husband. That is to say, I don't have the "sweep me off my feet" romantic sensation. But I absolutely love him and I know he loves me. This is a sensation based in truth that never leaves me. Life brings various tests to challenge our belief in God's existence and even his love for us. That doesn't change the fact that love was never meant to be contained in faith. Unlike any other book, the Song conveys the truth about love as a sensation that is essential to facilitate relationship. If you aren't experiencing the love of God today, ask him to make you more observant. God is speaking, dear one. Open your ears and eyes as well as your nose, mouth and skin.

Is Enough Ever Enough?

So we're listening to music while cleaning the kitchen when my daughter happens to turn up the volume and one line of one verse bounces through the air waves and into my ear with a highlighted message. "When I'm home alone at night that is when I hear the line, 'You'll never be enough'." I hate that voice. I've published a book and curricula on God's plan for relationships - 2 in fact. I started a marriage ministry, raised up new leaders to take my place and went on to start a thriving young adult ministry. Most people would call that success, but darn if that voice still doesn't "lay me down to sleep". Most of the time it's subconscious but I can't deny the battle that my best is not enough. Is enough ever enough?

I don't care where you are on the road to success, your best is never enough when it's measured by what you can produce. The truth is, there's always someone who can outdo your enough. Position is temporary no matter how vast the knowledge or superior the talent; it's a wonder we even keep trying. You see, we all have an insatiable need for approval but we don't have the means to secure it. We long for the simple, rare find of someone who will say, "The search is over. You are just what we've been looking for." That's called contentment. Do you realize that's what God feels when he finds you?

"...I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment." Song of Solomon 8:10. I know it's a bit of a stretch but when God finds you, his search is really over. No one else will do. He is completely content in just Y.O.U. If God is for you, there's just no other opinion that really matters.

for more info on Cindy's books visit her at www.thesosproject.com