Bound By Love

Are you ready to discover what the heart of our True Love is offering us on the second day?
I am!

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me Two turtle doves,

Enter a beautiful cage center stage with equally lovely birds perched inside it.

The two turtledoves in Scripture and in literature present a picture of devotion and covenant loving kindness. It is a sublime vision of earthly love and friendship. These particular birds form a strong pair bond for life!  Thus two turtle doves become emblems of devoted love.

                “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My loving kindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken, says the LORD who has compassion on you.”  Isaiah 54:10

They can also serve as a subtle reminder of Jesus’ birth.  They were offered when He was presented at the Temple at eight days old.

“And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the LORD (as it is written in the Law of the LORD, ‘Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD’), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the LORD, ‘A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’”

Two is the number of witness. One person is bringing a witness on behalf of his friend, his companion. One individual is standing up on behalf of the other.

“The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…..”  Romans 8:16-17a

The picture that comes to my heart is of our True Love giving us His arm and declaring that He is sticking close to us, that we are bonded with Him in love.  And He attests to this fact!  As a matter of fact, He laid down His life to secure the bond!

Time to look into Ephesians 5:25-32 and see what the Spirit whispers to your heart, as you put your name in the place of every reference to the church.  Rewrite this passage and make it personal!

"Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her; that He might sanctify her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wire; and the two shall become one flesh.  This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church."

What glorious words did you hear Him speak to you?  I would love to hear about it!

“Instead of shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion.  Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs.”  Isaiah 61:7