Watchword for the Month
“Place me as a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death.” – Songs 8:6
The Songs of Solomon is a series of love poems where the man and the woman declare their love for each other.
It is not only about true love, relationship and happiness, but also misunderstanding and sadness.
When I was ten years old, my grandmother gave me a signet ring for my birthday. I was so happy, excited and I treasured it because it was so special and meant a lot to me. This was also a token of her love for me. As I grew older, the ring became too small for my finger and I had to remove it. I later lost the ring before I could put it on a chain around my neck. I was once again very emotional about it, but this time I was sad and disappointed because I have lost my most treasured gift.
Dear brothers and sisters, to come back to our text, we read that the bride instructs the groom to wear the seal around his neck, close to his heart. A seal is a symbol of something dear and precious and the bride wants the groom to keep this precious seal close to his heart and also on his arm. By doing this, it would be a stamp or a sign of possession or ownership. Once this stamp had been applied, it left a permanent mark that could not be removed.
She reminds us that love is so strong. It can burn like a hot fire, which no amount of water can extinguish. Love is not a commodity that can be bought or sold. Not even the richest king can buy it because it is priceless. It is precious and must be accepted freely as a gift from God, and then bestowed and shared with everyone to be fully felt.
God’s love for us is indeed a wonderful thing. The Bible has so much to tell us about His love for us.
The well-known text: John 3 v 16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.“
In this very verse my brothers and sisters God set the pattern of true love, the foundation of all love relationships; when you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God also showed us by offering His Son to die for our sins, that He has for us is called Agape Love, meaning unconditional love.
What great love and promise to us, His children.
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.“ – Augustine
No matter how unworthy we feel, He still loves us. How blessed we are to call Him our very own. God’s love for us is as strong as death which conquers every living thing and cannot vanish. Death conquers all and nothing can separate us from it.
Romans 8 v 38 – 39 “I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels nor rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or heights or depth, or anything that is created.“
My dear brothers and sisters, how much we love Jesus and God our father can be measured by how well we treat others. So we can surely see that the ultimate sign is when I lay down my life for a friend; as well as showing love to all, even to those whom you feel do not
require or deserve it.
My brother and sister I leave you with two questions to ponder in your hearts, minds and souls. How would you respond if Jesus asked you: “Do you love me?“ and, “Are you even My friend?“
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father I am so blessed to be loved by you. That love of Yours is so overwhelming and unrelenting. You sacrificed Your Son, putting Him on the line for my sins. Lord the extent of Your love blows me away and I feel so privileged to be counted as part of Your family. Lord, You are so good to me. Help me to love unconditionally as You teach me to love. Amen.
Sr M. Abrahams