Monday, August 12, 2024
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. Let Israel say, “His faithful love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His faithful love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 118:1-4 CSB
His Faithful Love Endures Forever
Psalm 118 begins and ends with a command to praise God. It is a psalm of praise and rejoicing as the nation of Israel shows gratitude to God for His help in defeating their enemies. David, who is believed to have written this psalm, tells of the gratitude they have for God and His faithful love that endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.
We have a faithful God whose love for us never runs out. He never gets bored and decides to quit. He never gets tired of waiting for us. He doesn’t take His love away when we make bad decisions. When circumstances cause us to question His love for us, He is always there, faithful and with a love that endures all things, all seasons, all circumstances, and all time. He never changes or waivers. We can believe in Him and His faithful love for us no matter what our circumstances are.
It is out of the remembrance of his faithful love and the work he has done in our lives that we share the Gospel and His goodness. It is out of this remembrance that we can find peace in difficult circumstances. It is out of this remembrance that we can offer praise and worship to Him, even in the midst of pain and hard times. As our key truth in this sermon series reminds us, God is worthy of our worship in every circumstance of life.
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets on these two commands.”
Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees here, answering their question about which commandment is the greatest commandment. He tells them to love God and love their neighbor with all their heart, soul, and mind – which would be with their whole beings. This is how we live a life of thanksgiving. This is how we worship Him with our whole being. It will flow from us in adoration for Him and to others around us. This is how we show our love for Him.
The cornerstone of a building holds the building up and together. This is what Jesus is to the church. He holds us up and together individually and corporately. Jesus lifts us up out of our messes and holds us together every time. He lifts the church up and holds us together as one body as well. He is always with us through everything we experience in our lives. Because of His steady and unchanging character, the work He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives, and His faithful presence with us we can give thanks in all things and in all seasons. We are lifted up and held together in Him, even when the walls are falling down.
When is the last time you thought about all God has done and is doing in your life?
Are you living a life of thanksgiving, in good times or bad times?
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.
