Page 221 - Radical Love by Linda Robinson

RADICAL LOVE

She had been made aware of the cost of following Jesus in earlier

chapters and, through His love, had received grace to follow. It is
always about His grace and His empowerment. But His invitation to

arise into more surrender caused her a degree of agitation, despite the
loving terms of endearment used to address her.

Consequently, in verse 3, she reminds Him of who she has become

through her surrender. She has realised that her own righteousness is as
filthy rags and fully acknowledges that He was the One—through His

constant love and encouragement—that had brought transformation to
her thus far.

Now, faced with the request to open up her heart even further—where

all self-preservation would have to go—this maiden is not comfortable
at all. In fact, it would seem from the tone of this verse that, initially,

she is attempting to wangle her way out of this dilemma. And who can
blame her? She had reached a significant crossroad in her walk with the

Lord, and it couldn’t be more serious because He is asking her to
abandon herself to a place of total trust and reliance on Him alone—for

her direction, protection, provision, success, and even life itself.

Hence, her pleading words to Him: “Isn’t that enough?”

Before I move on with the text, I feel that the Lord has something to

say to us, which is extremely relevant for the times we are in at
present—and it has to do with being willing to open our hearts to

greater suffering, which comes in the form of persecution.

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