Today marks another Valentine’s Day where I (and many others) find themselves in some condition of aloneness in this life–even those who are married may ultimately exist in this state of being for any number of reasons.
Today also marks the beginning of Lent–Ash Wednesday.
I like the idea of taking something up during Lent rather than giving something up. As I prepared for sleep last night, I thought that perhaps during this Lenten season I should daily take up doing something intentional out of my love for God. I imagine many of us already live this way daily, with a mindset toward pleasing God through various means of expressing our love toward Him and toward other people. What I have in mind is similar but more intentional during these forty days–choosing to put something else into my already weighty days that stretches me further. Something I might privately consider a form of intentional sacrifice.
As I awoke this morning, my meditations turned a number of ways. An old Keith Green song I haven’t heard much lately entered my mind, and I listened to it on my phone. The song is “Pledge My Head to Heaven,” and I will link the words and the video at the end here.
Having been married (and divorced) twice now, when I hear the word pledge I think of the part in traditional, Christian weddings vows where rings are exchanged. The bride and groom each tell one another “this ring I give, as a token and a pledge, of my constant faith and abiding love.”
At both of my wedding ceremonies, we shared communion at the altar from a single glass. Then, the glass was wrapped in a white cloth and the groom broke the fragile vessel with his foot. This is a traditional act that originates in Jewish weddings, and the obvious symbol is that this cup that is shared between bride and groom will never be shared by another.
Having been divorced twice, I know that one element–if not the main element–that leads to the breakdown of a marriage is having a divided heart. And I would say that the external outgrowth of such division of the two hearts (one heart) partnership God desires in covenantal marriage manifests as contempt.
Contempt has no place in marriage, and though there may be one partner who initiates contempt for the other, it isn’t long before the cycle of reciprocal feelings of contempt (on some level) is set into motion. At this point, if the couple wants to save their marriage, they will find themselves in a heart battle to rid themselves of contempt. It is a hard battle, because the original divisive heart issues are strong and produce very real and deep wounds between the couple.
This morning I thought about the words which I spoke when I was baptized into Christ in 1983. We were asked to come prepared to share a scripture or some particular confession of our personal faith in the saving work of Jesus. I remember quoting aloud before I was immersed in a creek from Psalm 116: “I love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my supplication. Therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.”
Today, my morning meditations also included thoughts about how we relate to God and His love. Scripture gives us a number of metaphors (this is not an exhaustive list):
- Father and child (parental)
- Bridegroom and Bride (lovers)
- Lord/Master/King and Subjects (citizenship/obligation)
- Shepherd and Sheep (creatures/protection)
- Vine and Branches (sustenance)
- Potter and Vessel (formed for a purpose)
I thought about how sometimes we easily experience a sense of God’s love and presence with us through some combination of the above, and I thought about how during times of trials and testing we must keep our minds fixed on Him even when our emotions and other things battle to divide our hearts away from relational trust and faithfulness.
Eventually I thought of this scripture:
“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” – Psalm 86:11
And then, I thought of jealousy.
I imagine not many lovers on this Valentine’s Day will have jealousy for their beloved in the forefront of their minds, but, it will be there on some level. And, not many lovers today might imagine putting (or allowing) their spouse to be subjected to painful and otherwise difficult tests of their faithfulness and allegiance because humans do not normally think that way. (And for good reason, since we are not God.)
The idea that God is relentlessly jealous for His people may be a hard thought for the post-modern mind to grasp. Skewed images of a vindictive, raging deity are plenteous and promoted by those who do not follow nor understand Jesus as He truly is. And with typing out this paragraph, I am reminded of another old song called “The Love of God,” by Rich Mullins. I will include that below, as well.
The truth is that God our Creator is indeed (and rightfully) jealous for our affections, our whole life,
our undivided hearts.
The world offers us cheap love, cheap grace and cheap everything else. The pledge of eternal love God has shown us in His son came at the highest cost to our Creator, and is a pledge we can never fully reciprocate in our acts of gratitude. He is a jealous God, and He wants our hearts. He wants our undivided hearts.
My prayer right now is that He would deeply woo my heart–and yours–that above all we would live and move in loyal faithfulness to Him, Lover of our souls.
Pledge My Head to Heaven (Keith Green)
Well, I pledge my head to heaven for the Gospel,
And I ask no man on Earth to fill my needs.
Like the sparrow up above, I am enveloped in His love,
And I trust Him like those little ones, He feeds.
Well I pledge my wife to heaven, for the Gospel,
Though our love each passing day just seems to grow.
As I told her when we wed, I’d surely rather be found dead,
Than to love her more than the one who saved my soul.
I’m your child, and I want to be in your family forever.
I’m your child, and I’m going to follow you,
No matter whatever the cost, I’m gonna count all things lost.
Well I pledge my son to heaven for the gospel.
Though he’s kicked and beaten, ridiculed and scorn.
I will teach him to rejoice, and lift a thankful praising voice,
And to be like Him who bore the nails and crown of thorns.
I’m your child, and I want to be in your family forever.
I’m your child, and I’m going to follow you,
No matter whatever the cost, I’m gonna count all things lost.
Oh no matter whatever the cost, I’m gonna count all things lost.
Well I’ve had the chance to gain the world, and to live just like a king,
But without your love, it doesn’t mean a thing.
Oh no matter whatever the cost, I’m gonna count all things lost,
Oh no matter whatever the cost, I’m gonna count all things lost.
Well I pledge my son, I pledge my wife, I pledge my head to heaven,
I pledge my son, I pledge my wife, I pledge my head to heaven, for the gospel.
The Love of God (Rich Mullins)
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
I cannot find in my own
And He keeps His fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with a yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God
Now I’ve seen no band of angels
But I’ve heard the soldiers’ songs
Love hangs over them like a banner
Love within them leads them on
To the battle on the journey
And it’s never gonna stop
Ever widening their mercies
And the fury of His love
Oh the love of God
And oh, the love of God
The love of God
Joy and sorrow are this ocean
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all Hell could never close
Here I’m tested and made worthy
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God
Thank You For Reading
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