A Woman Won by Love

A Woman Won by Love

I have a couple of young male friends who once made a science of flirting. They read books about it, fastidiously putting what they learned into practice. Until talking to them, I never knew of the volumes of material written on the subject. I assumed people just followed their instincts. No. Flirting has been raised to a science.

For example, a blogger named Donalgraeme created an acronym for what he called "the five vectors of female attraction." He wanted to concisely identify what traits in a man attract women. The vectors are:

Looks
Athleticism
Money
Power
Status

The LAMPS acronym has no doubt worked magic for many a man in fleshly pursuit of a woman. But would it work to win a pure woman? Would it work to secure a real relationship? Or would the shallowness of the criterion itself sabotage any hope of a deeper love?

I got to thinking about the romance between God and His people. I've been writing a book called The Lamb Wins to accompany the music CD by the same name.

I've come to believe the central motif of the book is the romance between the Lamb and the bride. It seems to me that the war between the Lamb and the beast, essentially an extension of the war between God and Satan, is really the secondary war of Revelation. The primary war is the Lamb's death-defying struggle to win the bride's affections. It has been a slow, agonizing war—a cold war at times, fought in the silent disappointments of the bridegroom. But finally He wins her.

I found it illuminating that it is after she bestows her full affections, after she is clothed "in fine linen, bright and clean" (Revelation 19:8), symbolizing her full dependency upon Messiah's righteousness, (as we do on Yom Kippur) God is able to make a New Heavens and a New Earth for His people. When the bride is ready, dressed in white, pure in heart, then the White Horse rider, in a mode of utter triumph and masculine virtuosity, thunders forth to vanquish the enemy and take His bride to His Heavenly throne room. So what won the bride? Did God use the vectors of Donalgraeme's LAMPS acronym?

Looks- She doesn't lay eyes on His physical self till the wedding.
Athleticism- A Lamb doesn't show much muscle.
Money- The Lamb's beast-nemesis flashes much more money than He does.
Power- And the beast seems to have more power.
Status- Does dying sound like status?

My point is that the Lamb wins the bride's heart on the basis of something far more substantial than Doangraeme's "LAMPS." The Lamb has a lamp of His own. The goodness of God illuminates the Holy City, "and its lamp is the Lamb," (Revelation 21:23, italics supplied). That the Messiah is called "the Lamb" 29 times in Revelation—more than any other name—is no accident. He refers to the aspect of Himself that ultimately succeeds in conquering the heart of His woman, His people. It is His self-sacrificing love. The Lamb wins His bride on the basis of His character of love. And a woman won by love is a woman won forever.

True unselfish love wins!

Picture originally found here

 

Сохранить
0

Related Articles

More From Holy Days Articles

Feast of Trumpets

Feast of Trumpets

The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts. It begins on the first day of the…
Feast of Trumpets

A Meditation in Time

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5
A Meditation in Time
matza ball soup

Matza Ball Soup

Matzah Ball soup is a Passover favorite that can be enjoyed any time of year. Passover…
Matza Ball Soup

Passover Baklava Cake

This rich, nutty confection is soaked in a honey-citrus syrup, giving it a flavor much like…
Passover Baklava Cake

Vegan Tzimmis

ShalomVeg.com Recipes• 10 large carrots; peeled, diced• 2 medium potatoes cubed• 3 yams, or…
Vegan Tzimmis
Sukkot the Forgotten Holy Day

Sukkot the Forgotten Holy Day

Many non-Jews are familiar with Passover, Chanukah, and the High Holy Day days of Rosh Hashanah…
Sukkot the Forgotten Holy Day

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays. It is regarded as…
Yom Kippur
Vegan Challah with Raisins

Vegan Challah with Raisins

Ingredients: 2 packages dry yeast 2 cups warm water (105°F-115°F) 1/2 cup sugar, divided 3…
Vegan Challah with Raisins

Yeshua Offers Living Water

In Yeshua's day, a common practice during the seven days of Sukkot was that of a Nisuch…
Yeshua Offers Living Water

Sweet Potato Kugel

SWEET POTATO KUGEL(From No Cholesterol Passover Recipes, by Debra Wasserman)Serves 12.…
Sweet Potato Kugel

Future Fulfillment

As with each of the other Fall Holy Days, with Sukkot we look forward with eager anticipation…
Future Fulfillment

Tu B'shevat

Tu’B Shevat is the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Tu’B Shevat is when we celebrate the…
Tu B'shevat
Tashlich Breads

Tashlich Breads

On Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), there is a ceremony called Tashlich. Traditionally we go to…
Tashlich Breads

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation