Forever

Have your actions ever left you feeling miserably separated from God? Do you feel like you’ve been trapped by some bad habits that prevent God from ever loving you? If so, I want you to take in the first verse from Psalm 107: O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever! (Psalm 107:1)

What kind of love do we read about when we inquire about our heavenly Father? His faithful love! His steadfast love! And not only that, His love endures. Not only does God’s love endure, but it endures forever! Forever!

You will never experience love like what you find with God! I’ve known parents who loved their children. A precious love. A sacrificial love. A deep love. There is no love anywhere within the human race that loves like a parent’s love for their child. But human love can be tested by the belligerent actions of a spoiled child, a child caught in addictions, a child who steals from their own parents; who lies over and over. Yes, our love for a child can be tested, and I pray that you never have to endure that kind of test.

Your love for your children is glorious! And for that we are grateful! But regardless of the strength of that love, your love is but a mere shadow of the love God has for you! His love endures! His faithful, steadfast, sacrificial and suffering love endures! Forever!

You and I are a challenge to that love. We will make mistakes and look for satisfaction in a whole lot of things. When we look for our purpose or happiness in anything outside of our heavenly Father, we will end up feeling empty, wondering again whether our mistake, our sin, has separated us from the comfort of His love.

That same Bible passage in Psalm 107 says: Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. (Psalm 107:4-5) But when they cried, “Lord, help!” He rescued them! That may be all you ever need to know! For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things! (107:9)

Throughout scripture we find powerful words that describe our experience of God as a strong fortress, an anchor in the storm, our protector and defender, our conquering King! On and on it goes! What makes Him to be your sanctuary, your shade and shelter? Listen, here it is: His faithful love which endures forever! You can count on Him because you can count on His love!

In what places have you tried to find satisfaction outside of God? What price have you paid in order to pursue your own secret pleasures? And how is that working out for you?

You can call out to the Creator, the King of the Ages, the One who loves you more than you ever imagine! “Lord, help!” for His word tells us that He rescues us from all our distress. He offers forgiveness that re- news the soul. He brings you unto Himself so that you might know the assurance of a love you’ve needed, but dared not imagine. Yes, our God is for you!

Prayer: O Father, I come to You again. From out of my failures and faults, from my selfishness and pain... I come to You. Please fill me with the calm assurance of Your love, the quiet confidence of Your acceptance. And I praise You for the promise of Your word to love me despite the fact that I have trouble loving myself at times. I come to You with thanksgiving through my faith in Jesus Christ. Amen

-Pastor Kevin