“You can buy two sparrows for only a copper coin, yet not even one sparrow falls from its nest without the knowledge of your Father. Aren’t you worth much more to God than many sparrows? So don’t worry. For your Father cares deeply about even the smallest detail of your life.”
—Matthew 10:29-31 (TPT)
In Matthew 10:29-31 Jesus says that our Father knows even the sparrows. Then in Luke 12:24 He tells us further that God feeds the ravens (described as carefree birds in The Passion Translation), and cares for them.
“Take the carefree birds as your example. Do you ever see them worry? They don’t grow their own food or put it in a storehouse for later. Yet God takes care of every one of them, feeding each of them from his love and goodness. Isn’t your life more precious to God than a bird? …”—Luke 12:24 (TPT)
The God of all creation not only knows every person, creature, blade of grass, and grain of sand above and below the sea… He knows how many hairs are on our heads at every moment. He numbers them (see Matthew 10:30 and Luke 12:7).
While we might not consciously yearn for someone to know or care for us that intimately, God still does. He understands our hearts, sees us, and even beyond that, He KNOWS us! He considers us to be of VALUE and LOVES us.
Our minds can scarcely fathom such love and deep devotion. Our souls—mind, will, and emotions—dance at the realization. Our logic perhaps even rebels because we are not worthy of such love. Yet, He goes on loving us.
When we ignore Him, when we suddenly see Him through love-struck eyes, and even when we turn from Him in sin… He still loves us. We hurt Him and He continues to love; yet, like any of us who has ever truly been in love, He desires relationship. He desires us to see and know Him, just as He knows us. And unlike us, He deserves even more than that… He deserves beyond what we could ever give. Yet, He desires us…
This is our God. This is His love.
Our Provider AND Lover
In Jewish tradition when a man wants to marry a woman, he brings her father a contract. In other words, he brings a paper stating what he—the potential groom—intends to bring to the table; specifically how he intends to provide for her. This serves as an oath regarding what she—the potential bride—can expect if she chooses to accept him…
First the woman’s father reads the contract. Then if, and only if, he finds it suitable he will place it before his daughter under a filled wine glass. At this point she takes the contract, reads its, and if she agrees with her father and wishes to marry the man, she will consume the wine.
Our Father God has received a contract from Jesus for each of us. He has inspected it. He has seen the love of the offer through the cross. He knows that Jesus can well provide for us… and He has placed the Blood covered contract before us along with a filled wine glass.
The choice is ours. If we drink that wine, then we accept Jesus as our Groom; our future Husband, lover, and provider. If we refuse, then comes a heartache that Jesus does not deserve; while in turn we go through life with a longing that no earthly things can fulfill.
“Your presence releases a fragrance so pleasing—
over and over poured out.
For your lovely name is ‘Flowing Oil.’
No wonder the brides-to-be adore you.
Draw me into your heart. …”
—Song of Solomon 1:3-4 (TPT)
The contract that our Father has set before us by the will of Jesus is filled with all that Jesus will bring to His bride. His love. His mercy. His goodness. And all of the riches of Heaven.
Every covenant between God and man comes with our acceptance. Every promise resounds with ‘yes’ and ‘amen’. He displayed His ability to provide on the cross when He removed the curse. When He rose from the grave and went to sit at the right hand of the Father, Jesus served as a provider laying forth riches and eternal life in Heaven, as one speaking on behalf of their beloved.
Jesus sent us a love-note from the cross, from the empty grave, and from the Father’s right hand!
No suitor on earth could lay forth such a proposal. Such a covenant contract. Jesus not only brings Gentiles and Jews into the covenant of Abraham, but He offers eternal life. Love that is never ending. His presence on earth as well as in Heaven. Mansions in Heaven. Honesty in all things. Protection and provision. Mercy. Hope. Along with untold, miraculous things that are all for our good!
But will we drink the wine? Will we accept the proposal of our Messiah—our Jesus Christ?
Accepting Jesus’ Proposal
Jesus’ offer to us is beautiful. The best offer we could ever hope to receive. One filled with His love. There is no suitor that could come and outshine our Jesus; no one who could provide more. But the choice is ours.
“When the bridegroom didn’t come when they expected, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were awakened by the shout ‘Get up! The bridegroom is here! Come out and have an encounter with him!’ So all the girls got up and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish ones were running out of oil, so they said… ‘Share your oil with us, because our lamps are going out!’
“‘We can’t,’ they replied. ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. You’ll have to go and buy some for yourselves!’
“While the five… were out buying oil, the bridegroom appeared. Those who were ready and waiting were escorted inside with him and the wedding party to enjoy the feast. And then the door was locked.”—Matthew 25:5-10 (TPT)
If we desire to accept the proposal of the bridegroom, then it is time to drink the blessed wine. To keep our wicks trimmed and our oil lamps filled, so that we might go out and meet our bridegroom. To cleanse our hearts and minds so that we can go under the huppah—the holy place of our new covenant—and marry Jesus.
When we understand the price Jesus paid to set the offer of marriage before us, when we see His scars and His love for us, refusal of His proposal does not remain an option. The hour of our Bridegroom’s return draws near; we cannot afford to wait. The Lamb of God needs His intended’s answer.
His heart aches with love.
“The one I love calls to me:
The Bridegroom-King
“Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.
Come away with me!
I have come as you have asked
to draw you to my heart and lead you out.
For now is the time, my beautiful one.
The season has changed,
the bondage of your barren winter has ended,
and the season of hiding is over and gone.
The rains have soaked the earth
and left it bright with blossoming flowers.
The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived.
I hear the cooing of doves in our land,
filling the air with songs to awaken you
and guide you forth.
Can you not discern this new day of destiny
breaking forth around you?
The early signs of my purposes and plans
are bursting forth.
The budding vines of new life
are now blooming everywhere.
The fragrance of their flowers whispers,
‘There is change in the air.’
Arise, my love, my beautiful companion,
and run with me to the higher place…”
—Song of Solomon 2:10-13 (TPT)
Let us—as Jew and Gentile—accept Jesus’ proposal. Let us rejoice, for the Blood of our Messiah has atoned for us so that we might become His bride!
“But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!”—Romans 5:8 (TPT)
Let us take the filled wine glass and drink… accepting an offer of great price. That of being co-heirs. Of belonging.
We joy in the days to come, because our Bridegroom cometh.
“…Overshadow them in your presence as they sing and rejoice. Then every lover of your name will burst forth with endless joy.”—Psalm 5:11 (TPT)