God's Enduring Love

 

Psalms 100: “Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” NKJV

One of the over-riding messages of Psalm 100 is that we sing to bring our hearts, our minds, and our spirits into the presence of God. Our worship of God should be one of gladness. There should be a joy that overwhelms us as we come into God’s presence. It excites us so that we should want to shout our thanks to the Lord. In our thanksgiving we recognize that the Lord is good and “His steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136 ESV). Why do we sing in worship? It brings us into the presence of God Himself.

[1 John 4:8] “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Some themes are so great that comment only seems to detract. Words are just inadequate. One such theme is the love of God. Because “God is love,” His every act must be interpreted in that context. God’s love was shown in the creation of the universe. “We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks! For your wonderous works declare that your name is near” (Psalm 75:1). “For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:18). God’s wonderful world declares His wonderous love. God’s love is shown in every blessing He showers upon us. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Everything I have, God gave me! Everything I will have, God will give me! Every blessing is a manifestation of God’s love. God’s love is shown in His plan for redeeming us. Our sins alienate us from Him (Isaiah 59:1-2). Instead of withdrawing His love, God planned for our redemption. He does not want us to be lost forever! (2 Peter 3:9). He wants us to be saved from our sins! “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4). What Love God has for each of us! God’s love is shown in the sacrifice of His Son. This was, and is, the manifestation of His love. The golden text of the Bible is: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

We can only say with the apostle Paul, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Indescribable gift of love! It “…passes knowledge…” (Ephesians 3:19).

God loves us! He gave His Son for us! Such love constrains us to live for Him! “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus; that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This is why we gladly comply with His will. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). “Loving God, I praise You for all of Your bountiful blessings! You are rich in mercy and grace, and I am the grateful recipient of all You offer daily. In Jesus’ name.”