How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil.
—Song of Songs 4:1   

Reflection

Our Bridegroom God is quick to affirm us when we move in the right direction. Sometimes the only thing that has changed is our willingness to obey. We may not have reached the top of the mountain yet, but as soon as we say yes in our hearts, Yeshua affirms us in His love.

How beautiful you are, My darling, how beautiful you are.

Some people think the primary way God grows us in Him is by condemning us, but that is not true. The primary way God brings us into maturity is by cherishing us. We should be grateful for the Lord’s discipline, but forever thankful that the main way He brings our character and will into line with His is by lavishly loving us.

God’s discipline is gentle and tender. David said to the Lord, Your gentleness makes me great. God disciplined David, but the primary feeling David had was of the goodness, gentleness, and tenderness of God. Those are what produce change in our lives.

Jesus affirmed Peter and called him the rock, even though He knew Peter would deny Him very soon. Peter was about to fail Him massively, yet Jesus defined Peter by his best characteristics, not his biggest blunders.

Beloved, even in your worst moments, you are a child of God whom Jesus purchased with His own blood. Your identity has been settled in heaven and on earth forever. Messiah Jesus treats you as He treated Peter, by calling out the budding virtues in your life.

He knows we are not done cooking yet. Nobody is where we need to be. Yeshua looks ahead to our fullest potential and interacts with us now based on that reality. It gives Him great joy to teach us that way.

He also says, Your eyes are like doves’ eyes. Eyes are the window to the soul. Doves are faithful and loyal, but the dove also points us to the Holy Spirit, who descended upon Yeshua at His baptism.

Born-again people do not live solely in the natural realm anymore. We possess eternal life. There is a supernatural aspect to our lives now that we should recognize and celebrate.

Jesus looks at you and sees the supernatural life within you. He sees His own life in you. He sees His power in you, the same power that raised Him from the dead. There is something more than the earthly about you. You are walking in the life and power of the Holy Spirit.

Application

• Say yes to the Lord in your heart, trusting that He lovingly affirms every sincere movement toward obedience.
• Refuse to define yourself by your biggest blunders. Receive the identity and budding virtues Yeshua sees in you.

Prayer

Yeshua, thank You for cherishing me and bringing me into maturity through Your lavish love. Let Your gentleness, tenderness, and goodness produce deep change within me. Help me see myself according to the identity You have settled, rather than according to my failures. Awaken me to the supernatural life and resurrection power of the Holy Spirit within me. I say yes to You today, and I receive Your loving affirmation over my life. Amen.