Room For Two.

As is our custom at Bronx Bethany, our combined English- and Spanish-speaking congregations worshiped together yesterday, the fifth Sunday of the month. Pastor Martha's message was taken from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 through 7).

At the heart of her message was the issue of intimacy with Christ. Our pastor used an example found in the Song of Solomon, an allegory of Christ and His Church, where the Lover and the Beloved express a deep longing for each other and a desire for constant closeness.

Pastor Martha shared with us that the Christian who is pressing towards intimacy with Jesus does not enter His Presence with a list of requests. Rather, he enters in to God's Presence simply to enjoy, praise, and adore Him. We demonstrate the attributes commended by Jesus in His sermon: we come to Him poor in spirit; mourning over our sins and the sins of the world; hungering and thirsting for His righteousness; being a source of peace and peacemaking; demonstrating humility; and enduring persecution. As we embrace these attributes, we look more and more like Him as time goes by.

I encourage us all to read (or re-read) Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, and The Song of Solomon (Song of Songs), as we take time this week to reflect on the word of God. It's more reading than I usually refer to in this blog, but what harm is there in spending time getting to know the character of the One we love?