God's Delight and Our Devotion to His Church
In Isaiah 62:4-5, we find a beautiful picture of God’s love: “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”
Originally spoken to Israel after exile, this promise of restoration radiates God’s heart for His people. While I don’t hold to replacement theology—Israel remains distinct in God’s plan—the blessings of Abraham extend to the church through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22; Galatians 3:7-9). As believers, we’re grafted into this family, invited to experience God’s delight. Picture a groom gazing at his bride with joy—that’s how God sees us. As David Guzik notes, this isn’t a begrudging obligation; it’s a love that rejoices.
As Zephaniah 3:17 also demonstrates: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Paul prayed that we would grasp this overwhelming love (Ephesians 3:18-19), because it’s the heartbeat of our faith.
Here’s the challenge: If God is so devoted to His people—the church—shouldn’t we be too? Isaiah says, “as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you.” That’s us, called to commit to the church like a lifelong marriage. In Acts 2:42, the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” They were all in—sharing life, resources, and mission. Loving Christ means loving Christians. You can’t claim devotion to Jesus while dismissing His bride.
Why does this matter? Marriage in Scripture mirrors Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Husbands love sacrificially, like Christ; wives submit, like the church to Christ. God is “married” to His people, delighting in us. Positionally, in Christ, we’re united to Him and each other. But practically? That’s where we must step up. The world sees Jesus through how we love one another in local churches (John 13:35). Our devotion—showing up, serving, forgiving—proclaims His reality.
A sobering warning comes from Josh Harris, who wrote “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” which advocates for purity, and “Stop Dating the Church,” which urges commitment to the body of Christ. Tragically, he later deconstructed his faith, divorced his wife, and drifted from the church. It’s a reminder: Knowing truth isn’t enough. Like a marriage, intimacy with Jesus and His people requires intentional investment—prayer, community, accountability—to avoid drifting (Hebrews 2:1).
This leads to practical wisdom for relationships. Research, like a Barna study, shows many young Christians disconnect from faith, often due to compromises in dating. Unhealthy relationships can pull us from Christ and His church, especially when they involve moral compromises or unequally yoked partnerships (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Now Harris’s book sparked debate: Should Christians avoid dating to escape temptation? I believe dating isn’t inherently wrong—it depends on how it’s done. If it’s purposeful (discerning marriage potential) with holy boundaries to guard against sexual sin (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5), it can be healthy. But if it’s casual, using someone for temporary gratification, it’s harmful. Mature believers live out Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” We love this way because Jesus loves us selflessly, as Isaiah 62 shows.
What should you look for in a spouse? Are they devoted to Christ and His church—prioritizing worship, service, community? And are you ready? The key is finding your ultimate security in Jesus’ love. If you’re seeking fulfillment in romance, you’ll be disappointed.
David Powlison and John Yenchko’s book “Pre-Engagement: 5 Questions to Ask Yourselves” offers wisdom for pre-engagement and dating:
These questions anchor dating in God’s wisdom, reflecting His devoted love.
Friends, the motivation for all this? God’s rejoicing over you. His delight in us fuels our devotion to Him and His church. Let that fuel your devotion to Him, His church, and healthy relationships. Commit today: Be all in for what God delights in. Let’s pray and discuss—how can we live this out?
Originally spoken to Israel after exile, this promise of restoration radiates God’s heart for His people. While I don’t hold to replacement theology—Israel remains distinct in God’s plan—the blessings of Abraham extend to the church through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22; Galatians 3:7-9). As believers, we’re grafted into this family, invited to experience God’s delight. Picture a groom gazing at his bride with joy—that’s how God sees us. As David Guzik notes, this isn’t a begrudging obligation; it’s a love that rejoices.
As Zephaniah 3:17 also demonstrates: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Paul prayed that we would grasp this overwhelming love (Ephesians 3:18-19), because it’s the heartbeat of our faith.
Here’s the challenge: If God is so devoted to His people—the church—shouldn’t we be too? Isaiah says, “as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you.” That’s us, called to commit to the church like a lifelong marriage. In Acts 2:42, the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” They were all in—sharing life, resources, and mission. Loving Christ means loving Christians. You can’t claim devotion to Jesus while dismissing His bride.
Why does this matter? Marriage in Scripture mirrors Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Husbands love sacrificially, like Christ; wives submit, like the church to Christ. God is “married” to His people, delighting in us. Positionally, in Christ, we’re united to Him and each other. But practically? That’s where we must step up. The world sees Jesus through how we love one another in local churches (John 13:35). Our devotion—showing up, serving, forgiving—proclaims His reality.
A sobering warning comes from Josh Harris, who wrote “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” which advocates for purity, and “Stop Dating the Church,” which urges commitment to the body of Christ. Tragically, he later deconstructed his faith, divorced his wife, and drifted from the church. It’s a reminder: Knowing truth isn’t enough. Like a marriage, intimacy with Jesus and His people requires intentional investment—prayer, community, accountability—to avoid drifting (Hebrews 2:1).
This leads to practical wisdom for relationships. Research, like a Barna study, shows many young Christians disconnect from faith, often due to compromises in dating. Unhealthy relationships can pull us from Christ and His church, especially when they involve moral compromises or unequally yoked partnerships (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Now Harris’s book sparked debate: Should Christians avoid dating to escape temptation? I believe dating isn’t inherently wrong—it depends on how it’s done. If it’s purposeful (discerning marriage potential) with holy boundaries to guard against sexual sin (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5), it can be healthy. But if it’s casual, using someone for temporary gratification, it’s harmful. Mature believers live out Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” We love this way because Jesus loves us selflessly, as Isaiah 62 shows.
What should you look for in a spouse? Are they devoted to Christ and His church—prioritizing worship, service, community? And are you ready? The key is finding your ultimate security in Jesus’ love. If you’re seeking fulfillment in romance, you’ll be disappointed.
David Powlison and John Yenchko’s book “Pre-Engagement: 5 Questions to Ask Yourselves” offers wisdom for pre-engagement and dating:
- Are you both Christians, with Jesus truly first?
- Do you solve problems biblically, showing maturity in conflict?
- Are you aligned in life’s direction, leaving the past behind?
- What do trusted people think of your relationship?
- Do you want to marry this person, accepting them as they are?
These questions anchor dating in God’s wisdom, reflecting His devoted love.
Friends, the motivation for all this? God’s rejoicing over you. His delight in us fuels our devotion to Him and His church. Let that fuel your devotion to Him, His church, and healthy relationships. Commit today: Be all in for what God delights in. Let’s pray and discuss—how can we live this out?