Give thanks to the Lord – For He is Good

During yesterdays bible reading the truths of Psalm 136 and Romans 5 were harmonious. Let me share some of the thoughts and "nuggets" that I was able to mine out of the treasury of God's word.

SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 136: 1, 23, 24 & 26
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
...to the One who remembered us in our low estate, His love endures forever.
...and freed us from our enemies, His love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. (NIV)
Romans 5: 1–8
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

OBSERVATION:
God’s love and compassion are never more evident than in His provision of salvation for all of humanity. The provision of God’s peace through Jesus Christ, the ability to have access to grace and the pouring out of God’s love into our hearts are testimonials to the fact that God’s love endures forever. Forever is not just the amount of time – but for ever is for every situation and circumstance. God has the power to free us (Psalm 136) from our enemies, the greatest of which is the power of sin. During our sin state (Romans 5) Christ died for us. He did not wait until we were clean, forgiven and filled with His love to love us. His love reached down to us while we were yet unlovable and unclean. When God loves us we know that even in the difficulties and hardships (the sufferings) of life that God is building character into our lives and filling us with hope. All of this is due to the fact His love has been poured out into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION:
The Lord deserves our praise and worship and hearts that give thanks. Just stop and take into account all He has done for us by providing salvation and expressing His love. How mind boggling is the fact that God could take His magnificent love and place it inside the heart of a human soul. It is possible for God to love us on terms that are foreign to human understanding and not predicated upon our performance or feelings. He loves us – even when we were in sin and poured out His love on humanity (even death on the cross) was poured out when we were powerless, ungodly and still in sin. Because of the truth and power of salvation and God extending His grace and mercy and love to us – we must give thanks unto the Lord. We have access into God’s grace by faith and now we can stand in that grace-place. This is cause for celebration – His love endures forever! The realization of the power and grace and love of salvation will move us into gratitude and ignite our worship. Give thanks to the Lord – His love is in us – Give thanks to the Lord – His salvation is available for us – Give thanks to the Lord – His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love is ever constant and ever present – it endures all things and will exist forever – after all things are gone.

PRAYER:
Dear God, thank you for Jesus Christ and His willingness to die for us and your plan to provide salvation, love, grace and hope in the hearts of powerless sinners who will believe in You and Your Son. Grace and mercy are ours only because of you. Oh God, thank you for loving us now and forever and providing us with Yourself in us – our Hope. Your love endures forever and we praise you. In your Son’s Grace-filled name, Jesus. Amen

Be blessed as you read God's word and let's keep growing deeper in Him.