What would a man think if his bride-to-be invited him to her house, sat him in the living room and then went her way? While he waits, she works in the kitchen, dusts the furniture, mops the floors and never says a word to him.
Jesus endures the same pain any man would feel if his beloved continually praised him, saying “I love you” over and over, yet showed him little or no attention. Her words would have the ring of insincerity.
The sweetheart may claim, “Well, he’s always on my mind.” I’ve heard people say that about Jesus. “He’s on my mind all day in everything I do.” How can you have him on your mind all day and still neglect him? When a bride-to-be does this, her so-called love is a lie. She may tell her fiancé she truly loves him, but her actions tell him she does not.
The Lord asks, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32, NKJV). David also speaks of this: “They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt” (Psalm 106:21).
The Lord exposed his pain in scripture for the whole world to see. He said openly, “My people neglect me for days on end.” Why would the Lord tell the world about such neglect? Shouldn’t lovers’ differences be kept quiet? Not in the Lord’s case; he wants us to know how hurt he is. He tells the whole world because he is heartbroken by our behavior.
Imagine that you are an engaged young woman on your way to the church with your husband-to-be. You grasp his hand and tell everyone, “It’s our wedding day! I love him; he is absolutely wonderful.” As soon as the ceremony is over, you clam up and don’t say a word to him. What is he supposed to think? I wouldn’t want a bride who extols my virtues, says loving things about me in public, telling me how precious I am and then later growing cold and avoiding time with me. That isn’t true affection!
Beloved, if you do not have quality time with Jesus every day in prayer or reading his word, you don’t truly love him, and you are breaking his heart.