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Day 69: Cross on the Heart (SoS 1:13b)

         "A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, That lies all night between my breasts."

Song of Songs 1:13

The previous lesson concluded that Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection is a bittersweet event we must treasure like a bundle of fragrant but bitter expensive myrrh.

It is said that some noble women in ancient times went to bed with a necklace of myrrh around their neck to provide a soothing fragrance through the night. When we talk about the night season, according to the Bible, it is a time of trials, temptations, and tribulation.

The human heart is located between the breasts, behind the breast bone though slightly skewed to the left. So to compare the Beloved to a bundle of myrrh worn between the breasts is to say the Bride had her Beloved on her heart.

(On her heart and not in her heart because it's meant to signify he was always in her thoughts, on her mind.)

As we go through the challenges of life, we must look to Jesus, look to His sacrifice and eventual triumph. We must constantly bear Jesus, the cross, and His glorification on our hearts like a bundle of myrrh. When we make a habit of meditating on all that Jesus endured and His triumph afterward, we will beat discouragement and overcome every obstacle. Christianity is not a promise of utopia but victory is always assured as long as we set our hearts on the right thing. Hebrews 12:2-3 (The Passion Translation) says:

"We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation on to Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! So consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls, so that you won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures."

It is said however that in the original transcript, ‘all night’ is not included in the phrase. When we interpret it in this light, we can say that we must always have our hearts set on the cross, not just in the night seasons of life but at all times. David through the Psalms meditated not just on God's command and acts, he meditated on God all the time. All day, all night, on His bed, and even on the go.


We must carry not only the consciousness of Jesus and His person but also the cross through our days and nights. We must set our minds on the bittersweet event that brought us salvation because it's the greatest act of God and the most accurate display of His love and nature. We must live in the consciousness of the cross.

Mike Bickle said and I quote:

"The most obedient and worshipful saints think the most on the cross."

Meditating on the cross fills our hearts with not just gratitude and love for our Beloved but also awe of Him. When our hearts are filled with these, no temptation, no adversity will lure us away from Him. Obeying God's commands will be second nature and not a chore. We will have the courage to face and overcome life's challenges. And we will know, walk in, and enjoy the benefits of our redemption.

PRAY WITH ME:
My Beloved Jesus, I love you. How precious you are to me! How wonderful Your demonstration of love to me. As I contemplate these, let my heart fill with awe, gratitude, love, and passion for You. Both in the night and day, good and bad times, let me never forget all You endured for me. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:
  • Read and meditate today on 1 Peter 2:21-25 and Philippians 2:8-9. As you do, imagine Christ's sufferings, death, burial, and resurrection.
  • Find and memorize certain scriptures about the suffering and glory of Christ's death and make a decision to live conscious of the cross each day.


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