Too often we can get caught up in our petitions to God and we forget to give Him all the praise, honor, and love He deserves. I recently walked into a large retail store and saw a tremendous display for Valentine’s Day remembrances. Everything you can image was there: flowers, cards, candy, perfume, and tons of other forget-me-nots choked the isles.
It is appropriate and necessary that we celebrate this holiday, but it begs the question of why we don’t take enough time to regularly acknowledge our Lord and Savior. At 120 years of age and before he passed the baton on to Joshua, Moses made this statement to the Israelites: This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deut. 30:20 (emphasis added).
When I think of how God leads me through those wilderness experiences—how He provides for my daily needs—and how He never forsakes me in spite of my transgressions, I continue to sense His peace, His presence, and His love.
I’m awe-struck when I consider how His grace has been sufficient for me in all my troubles—how His blood has redeemed me from all my sin—and how His rod and His staff have comforted me, I’m totally humbled. When I look back upon the love of the Lord, and let faith survey His love for the future, I remember that Christ’s love covenant for me and you have something more in it than just the past.
He who has loved and pardoned us, shall never cease to love and pardon. He is Alpha, and He shall be Omega also. He is first, and He shall be last. When we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear evil, for He is with us. When we stand in the midst of a fearful situations, we need not to fear about evil doers, desperate concerns, divorce, sickness, rebellious children, abandonment and even death because they cannot separate us from His love.
The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For I am persuaded, that neither death; nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38. Amidst all the celebration this month of Valentine’s Day, aren’t you glad Paul reminds us of the only true love that has eternal value – the love of God. As we meditate on “The Love of the Lord,” let’s remember to read Psalm 136 as our prayer…His love endures forever.
Personal Application:
As you read Psalm 136 what are the things that immediately come to your mind? What is it that you are most thankful for?
The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christians in Thessalonica: “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” Through God’s love to you and your love for others, where is it that God wants you to persevere?
We are saved by grace not works, but what are your love gifts back to God?
Jim E. Grassi, D. Min.