The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Tender Agony, #4

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)

The Bride is to be made one whole with Christ in God "that the world may know."

When Israel has been made perfect and complete in Christ the world will realize it is God who has sent Christ, and that God loves Israel as He loves Christ.

What will Israel do when the nations come to Jerusalem in the hope of finding God? God will put in Israel's heart His compelling love for the nations of the saved, just as God has placed in Christ's heart a compelling love for Israel.

The heart of Israel will be broken and enlarged. The nations will come to Israel, bringing their wealth with them.

Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. (Isaiah 60:4,5)

The members of Israel will experience the tender agony of God's love as their hearts reach out to the nations that God has chosen. Because of the atoning blood of Christ, God will smile on Israel and the nations as they are taught righteousness. Israel will love the nations as Christ loves Israel. Israel, who is God's booth through Christ, will bring the Presence and Glory of God to the nations of the saved, just as Christ has brought the Presence and Glory of God to Israel.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)

Christ cries to Israel:

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. (Song of Solomon 8:6)

God's love in Christ is reaching out to Israel today. If any Jew will open his heart, Christ will enter him and give him to eat of His body and to drink of His blood. Christ is God's Passover Lamb, and it is only by eating His flesh and drinking His blood that we come into perfect union with Him.

The Altar, the Lampstand, and the Booth.

The Altar of blood sacrifice makes it possible for God to receive us in our sins.

The Lampstand, the light of the Holy Spirit, guides us to the heavenly Bridegroom, just as Eliezer guided Rebecca to Isaac.

But it is the Booth that is the central purpose of God for Israel and then for all mankind.

The Kingdom of God is God in Christ in Israel bringing God's Glory and righteousness to the nations of the earth. The tender agony of love will continue until God, who is Love, is dwelling in every saved person, and they in Him.

"The winter is past. The rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along." (from The Tender Agony)