I was reading a devotion by C.H. Spurgeon and was reminded of the phrase, “I only have eyes for you.”. You might have heard some young man say that to the girl he is courting or to his wife. I have been around a few people in my life who live in such a way with their wives. My Grandfather exhibited that kind of love with my Grandmother, it was incredible to watch. What is more telling though than any earthly relationship though is what the Lord does for us His bride. Spurgen was commenting n a verse in the Song of Solomon, which is a book that many believe is an allegory of the Lord and the church, His Bride. Song of Solomon 4:7 reads, “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.”
The reason it can be said that the bride is altogether beautiful, and there is no flaw is because the Lord is at work in His Bride. Spurgeon gives reason why . . .
He views her in Himself, washed in His sin-atoning blood and clothed in His meritorious righteousness, and He considers her to be clothed in comeliness and beauty. No wonder that such is the case, since it is but His own perfect excellency that He admires; for the holiness, glory, and perfection of His Church are His own glorious garments on the back of His own well-beloved spouse. She is not simply well proportioned; she is altogether beautiful!she has actual merit! Her deformities of sin are removed; but more, she has through her Lord obtained a meritorious righteousness by which an actual beauty is conferred upon her.
You see, the Lord only has eyes for us, His bride. No matter the flaw of sin, or the deformity we may have, it is covered by his righteousness imputed (conferred upon) to us. With this in mind, I sense that I should respond more as he sees me, I should look down at the garments of grace and see myself as he sees me. It should cause celebration, it should transform living, habits, and thoughts, so that the garments are not dirtied by further disobedience and sin.
As a husband, this picture also makes me think about my call to love Katie as Christ loves the church. My calling is to have eyes only for her so that she fee altogether lovely; that her glory and satisfaction would be secured by godliness in me as I imitate Jesus and His love for His bride. When she finds her beauty to be superlative because I have made much of it (not just outward, but her character as much), I trust that she will find greater strength and be assured of her beauty and our love for one another will be evident to all. So I encourage you, to find yourself with the eyes of the Lord upon you and know His perception of you, and then, live a life that is pleasing to Him for the work He has secured, for you are altogether beautiful and you do have merit and you are priceless to Him.