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So Jacob served seven years for Rachel
and they seemed to him but a few days
because of his love for her.
Genesis 29:20
When I read this verse, I am reminded of my service to Christ. No matter the years of service devoted to my Savior, they seem only but a few days because I love Him so much.
This verse, even more so, leads me to think of Christ as He stands at the right hand of God the Father, interceding on behalf of the church and serving her to the point of death on a cross. Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” God laid aside His glory, He laid aside His throne, and He came to this world in the form of man that He might reconcile us to Himself through the cross of Christ (Colossians 1:20).
Jacob left his home and went out to seek his bride. Jesus left his throne and came to not only seek His bride but to bring life to His bride. He serves for His bride. He has served her for over two thousand years, and yet He says, “Beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Peter 3:8).
Christ’s days of service for His bride are many years, yet they are only as a few days because He loves her so much. He still waits for His wedding day.
Christ made Himself ready; He has done all He needs to do. He stands at the end of the aisle by His Father, and He waits for His bride to enter through the narrow door and walk the path to Him.
True love is worth waiting for. True love is worth dying for—dying not just physically, but dying to our own self, our own wants, our own dreams, our own desires. True union begins in our commitment to one another, and the covenant binds that commitment.
A marriage is formed because two have committed their lives to each another before the ceremony. The ceremony is only an outward display of what has already inwardly taken place. It is a demonstration before witnesses, and it binds the commitment.
Jacob loved Rachel and demonstrated his love to her by his service. He willingly served Laban seven years for her. Jacob waited to be with the one he loved.
In this day, waiting is not popular. Many of us have believed the lie of the enemy and have allowed ourselves to be convinced that love does not wait. How often do we hear, “If we love each other, why wait?” How many have jumped into a marriage that was not God’s plan because they simply were tired of waiting? How many have become sexually involved before they were married because they were not willing to wait?
Oh, precious one, love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4).
True love is worth waiting for, and it is worth serving for.
Oh Father,
As the song “Amazing Grace” says, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we have no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.” Oh Father, thank You for loving me. Thank You, my Jesus, for loving me enough to die for me. You died for me while I was still an enemy to You. I was dead in my trespasses and sin against You, and yet still You died for me (Romans 5:6–11). I will never get over the grace You have shown me and continue to show me every day. My Jesus, might I serve You with my every breath, for I breathe only by Your grace. Oh Father, might I be presented to my Groom having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that I would be holy and blameless, sanctified, and cleansed (Ephesians 5:26–27). My Jesus, You are worthy of nothing less.
It is in Your name I pray,
Amen.