Readings for the day: Psalms 49, 84, 85, 87
Recently I was given a very special gift. It was one I did not deserve. One I did not earn. It was a generous gift. One might even call it an extravagant gift. When presented with the gift, I found myself going through a range of emotions. Shock. A little embarrassment. Humility. Followed by a deep and profound sense of gratitude and thankfulness.
This gift itself is very special but even more significant is the heart of the giver. What overwhelmed me the most was the love the giver has for me and my family. A love so deep and wide it would prompt them to act in such a generous and gracious way. Again, I do not deserve such love. I am not worthy of such honor. And yet, their love for me remains.
In this is love...not that we loved God but that He loved us. (1 John 4:10) God is the most extravagant giver of all time. His mercies are new every morning. Manna appearing each and every day. He throws open the storehouses of heaven in order to care for those He loves. I love how Psalm 85 puts it, “Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.” (Psalms 85:9-13) Surely we do not deserve such divine attention! Surely we have not earned such divine blessing! Surely we are not worthy of such an honor and yet God’s love remains. He gives what is good. He causes the land to yield it’s increase. His salvation comes to those who fear Him. His glory fills the earth. God is vigilant. Always watching. Always on the lookout. He never sleeps. He never rests. He never takes a day off. He is there for us in good times and in bad. He is at work when there is scarcity and when there is abundance. He is moving among the rich and poor, drawing them together in such a way that what one lacks, the other provides.
I know it’s easy to question such goodness. We look around at the world and we see the starvation. The poverty. The disease. The death. We wonder where God is in the midst of it all. The Bible’s answer is clear and unequivocal. He is there. Right in the middle. Right in the thick of things. Saving. Securing. Providing. Comforting. Rescuing people from the bondage of sin and death in this world in order to bring them home to Himself. He’s also at work in us. Those who have plenty. Those who have abundance. Those who are healthy and strong and blessed with tremendous resources. He moves on our hearts. He moves in our lives. He propels us out to the ends of the earth to be His hands and feet. What a marvelous thing it is to be invited to partner with God’s Spirit in what God is doing to save the world!
It is humbling. It is a little embarrassing. Certainly shocking that God would choose me. But I am overwhelmed by a deep and profound sense of gratefulness and thankfulness. I do not deserve this honor. I have done nothing to earn it. I am unworthy in every which way. But God is gracious. And God’s love for me remains. Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)