Ogundipe oluwatoyin amos The Bible Calendar for 31st May 2024.
Deuteronomy 10: 12–11:32
Songs of Solomon 1: 1–2: 7
Luke 9: 18–36
POINTS:
1. Circumcision of the Heart
3. The Lover of Soul
4. Who is Jesus to you?
1. CIRCUMCISION OF HEART
The heart of man is the controller of the body because it pumps blood with the help of the veins to circulate blood to all parts of the body. The heart in this context can also be called the mind which is the center point of all thoughts and deeds of human beings. Circumcision means the total denial and dedication of all the body systems and soul to surrender to his maker. Moses after he relayed all the laws to the Israelites realized that the humanity in them would not allow them to follow the law of God except only those that have totality submitted to God and allow Him to rule their mind, thus he said circumcise your heart. It means he was telling them that they may have nobody to directly receive from God for them therefore circumcising their hearts to God will allow them to be directly connected to God and give them the ability to do the will of God. Sincerely, the body is not ready to do the will of God because she knows that it has a short time and its final destination is dust, to this, she wants to enjoy life but only those that circumcise their hearts will be directed by God. The Holy Spirit is a tool to circumcise the believer’s heart to connect him to God and enable him to do the will of God. Paul said the body is against the spirit and the spirit is against the body, this is the inner battle that everyone who wants to follow God must face and anyone who fails to conquer his flesh, body, self, and nature cannot satisfy God and this is the first burden that must be carried as the instructions of Jesus in the third passage read that anyone that wants to follow Him should deny himself and carry his cross to follow Him. But doing the will of God must be from the heart and only those who circumcise their heart will make the decision and fulfill it to the end.
2. THE LOVER OF SOUL
Everyone wants a lover who will console him or her in times of sorrow, someone who can understand whatever happens, one who can see beyond the physical. The situation of Solomon that prompted this poem seems as if he lost the relationship with someone important to him and he called the person the lover of his soul. Some people tagged the person he was describing as the Shunamite woman, but his further agitation proved that he was looking beyond human beings. Knowing how God related with him from the beginning of his reign to the junction where he couldn’t find the traces of God and he could not see nor hear Him, no dream nor vision all because of his desire was on worldly things; he therefore sought for God and discribes him as if he was looking for a loving woman. Some scholars believe that he was loved by another woman, but all figurative expressions of love spoken by Solomon can be found in Jesus, who with his love died in our stead. Jesus is the lover of souls, no love is greater than one who sacrifices His life for human beings because He came through the love of God to die for the sins of the world, so that our souls may not perish but have everlasting life. He is the Lilly of the Valley, the Bright Morning Star; He who cannot back out in the time of trouble. If Solomon is looking for a Shunimite Woman and describes her like this, it means we are supposed to love our spouse like that, because we married ourselves in the name of Jesus and we need to know that our spouse is the physical extension of Jesus. Paul said if you did not love the person that you can see, who is visible to your eyes, how can you love God that you are not seeing? It’s a great loss for anyone to love the person who didn’t love him, but Jesus loves us when we didn’t love Him and he died for your soul, not your body because your body will end up dust, but your soul cannot die, it can be separated from God to the everlasting punishment for not realizing the lover of your soul. Please embrace Jesus and allow His relationship day and night and it shall be well with you.
3. WHO IS JESUS TO YOU!
Many people called Jesus many names and people acknowledged Him in many dimensions but who is he to you? Jesus asked His disciples whom people called Him. And after they told Him what people were saying about Him, He later asked the disciples who did you say that I am? This is to tell us that we need to know Him vividly and have encounters with him. We don’t know how long the disciples have been with him at the time of this statement but certainly, it wasn’t the early stage of their relationship with Jesus and this is posting challenges to us on how we know Jesus. Many Christians know Him to be a problem solver, while some know Him as the healer and some confirm Him as the provider but you need to know Him as your Lord and Saviour. Muslims know Jesus as a Prophet while African traditional Religion knows Him as Elah the only Son of Eledumare and all respect Him according to their knowledge; but how did you know Him? Something is sure He will reveal Himself to everyone based on his or her knowledge of Him. Paul says that I may know Him and the power of His Resurrection, which is telling us that our encounter with Him matters. The grace to know Him throughout our life shall be given to us in Jesus’ name.
Pastor M.O. Shodipe.
For questions: 08056044717
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