Saturday September 18, 2021

Today’s Reading: Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love is eternal.

Psalm 136:1

Reflection: The span of God’s perfect love reaches far beyond what one can imagine. It is everlasting, continuing through eternity without beginning or end. It is ongoing, poured out beyond measure to all of God’s people. There is no need to ration it, for the love of the LORD is limitless. It enters in and overflows out of every empty heart that longs to be filled. It never becomes stale or stagnant, but is constantly replenishing within God’s believers, transforming, refining, and renewing souls by His Holy Spirit. The love of the LORD has caused great things to be done. For God created the heavens and the earth in love, carefully crafting each part and ensuring that all of it was good. Out of love He executed His justice for lowly Israel, granting them rescue and striking down those against them. The LORD has remembered us too, even in our sin, and saved us for life with Him forever. He has done all of these things and more out of His eternal and abounding love.

The love that we see expressed through people is but a dim shadow compared to the radiance by which God’s love shines upon us. Praise God that His love is not limited or conditional, that it is instead a certain quality of our faithful LORD which He proves countless times each day. Praise God that He keeps us and blesses us not by what we deserve, but according to His great love for us. Yes, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good indeed. His love is eternal.

Prayer: LORD God, You are a loving God. You are compassionate beyond measure and caring beyond understanding. Your love, LORD, is indescribable. It cannot be completely understood. It is a wonder that You should love me so much. I am thankful for Your love. Please grow within me a heart that is shaped by Your love and moved to thank You for the love that You have first shown me. Help me also, I pray, to love others in the way that You love. All of these things I lift up to You in the Name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, AMEN.

Bible-in-a-Year Reading Plan (credit: Bible, studytools.com): 1 Peter 3; Jeremiah 35-36; Psalm 136