Page 330 - Radical Love by Linda Robinson_FEB2025

RADICAL LOVE

having had a foretaste of what it truly means to be one with Jesus, she

now yearns for the complete union of her entire being with Him.

Interestingly, in the NIV version, Chapter 8 (verses 1–2) begins like

this:
"If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s

breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one

would despise me. I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s
house—she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink,

the nectar of my pomegranates."

In ancient times, it was considered indecent to kiss anyone in public

except for brothers, sisters, or other blood relatives—and this included

husbands and their wives. As we unpack what is meant here, we see
that despite her being full to overflowing with love and passion, she is

not always going to be welcomed by those in the church. We know this
refers to the church because that is what “mother” symbolizes in this

instance.

We begin our journey of faith together with others, learning and being
nourished by the Word of God. However, many choose to remain as

infants, nursing only at the “breast” of what is handed to them on a
Sunday, instead of embarking on a journey of pursuing God for

themselves and thereby learning of Him firsthand. Unfortunately, what
often happens then is that those who are moving on with God and

choosing to surrender their whole lives to Him begin to encounter envy,

jealousy, and misunderstanding.

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