READING: Psalms 35-36, Acts 25
“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!”
Psalm 36:7
It is hard to fathom how much God loves us. We sing the simple words, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so,” and it’s right to understand His love with the heart and mind of a child – but the depth of His love is far beyond our comprehension. His love is ongoing, so immeasurable that it “extends to the heavens” (Psa. 36:5), and His faithfulness likewise reaches “to the clouds” (Psa. 36:5). It is simply impossible for human beings to wrap our minds around the vastness of the lovingkindness of God.
David, in fact, saw God’s steadfast love as “precious” (Psa. 36:7). It is a rare love – there is none like it. It’s priceless, more valuable than any human can understand. No dollars are enough to purchase it, and no jewels can compare to its splendor. It is a love that provides for us, protects us, and grants us light and life. As we have seen previously in the book of Psalms, it is in that love that we rest “in the shadow of his wings” (Psa. 36:7).
Perhaps if we better understood the magnificence of God’s love, we would love Him more in turn; that is, perhaps we would follow Him more faithfully. The proper response to the steadfast love of God is to show our love for Him by obeying Him steadfastly in turn. That means that because He loves me, I must turn from my ego, my lusts, my greed. I must reject my desire for worldly recognition and choose instead to live only to bring Him glory. I must let go of any anger or jealousy or bitterness that controls me. I must live in His Word and on my face in prayer. I must be willing to die for the sake of the gospel if that’s what God requires.
Those demands sound high. Almost crazy, in fact, in a world that places the human being on his own throne. And, such commitments might indeed be crazy . . . unless you’re gripped by the incredible steadfast love of God.
ACTION STEPS:
- Meditate today on how deeply and faithfully God loves you.
- In His love, reach out to someone who needs to know Him today.
PRAYER: “God, thank You for loving me like You do.”