Page 71 - Radical Love by Linda Robinson

RADICAL LOVE

even complained to Jesus, who told her that there was only one thing

needed, and that by sitting at His feet and listening to Him, Mary had
chosen the better thing. This is because Jesus is our absolute life source,

and from Him alone flows the ability to grow in Christ-likeness and do
the works of the Kingdom.

A positive aspect of verse six, however, is the way the Shulamite is

prepared to admit her darkness. This is a sign of her spiritual growth.
She knows she is dark; she knows she has strayed from the Lord’s path,

but is now wanting to get back on track.

Humility will always lead us into our Beloved’s heart, but as Scripture

says, He opposes the proud.

So why has she neglected her own vineyard? Well, she talks about

working out in the sun. The sun is an earthly object which gives off

light, but in the secret place—in the Holy of Holies—there is no natural
light. The sun, in this context, represents legalistic works of the flesh,

which can emanate from pressure from others or even from our own

striving. This style of working for the Kingdom will not yield the
fruitfulness necessary to bring heaven to earth. Our work must be based

on the revelation that has been downloaded to us in the secret place.

Jesus said, “I will build My Church,” and He does that by working

through us. The work of the Kingdom is from a place of rest. As we
fully surrender to God, it means that we are available to be used—or

even not be used—whenever or wherever, as the case may be. In any

57