Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love endures forever
To Him alone who does great wonders, His love endures forever.
This is just the beginning of Psalm 136 which continues in the same vein– reminding God’s people that in all that He does, it is His love that is enduring.
We know that this Psalm was sung in Solomon’s temple (2 Chronicles 7) and by the armies of Jehosaphat. More than likely it was a popular hymn encouraging God’s people to see the unswerving, faithful, love of God.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, sends the same message to Christians: His love endures forever.
Love never fails….. And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he prays that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith; that they would be rooted and grounded in love.
Friends, the Psalmist and Paul tapped into the essential currency in the kingdom – love. The meaning of love defined as deep affection is different than the love of Christ. Human love can take us only so far. Human love stops at the crossroads and decides whether or not to cross to the side of surrender and self-sacrifice. But Christ’s love, above the natural, rooted and grounded in us, did not stand at the crossroads. Christ’s love, for the joy set before Him, took Him to the cross. Known as agape love, it is supernatural and defies the natural affections we have; it is a love that is unquenchable, unconditional, and transforming. Christ’s love in us is a love that demands a verdict of laying one’s life down for another; of considering other’s interests above our own.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable and it keeps no records of wrong. And to that all I can say is help! I am daily disqualified.
But God…. so loved the world that He gave His only son…
Jesus laid down His life so that we could have new life in Him. And His life in us, transformed by His Word, changes us and causes us to throw our roots deep into His love. And when we do, we become agents of His love. In union with Him, things start to change. And when we fail to love as He calls us to, and when we fail to live humbly and in self-sacrifice, repentance turns us back.
Every morning I ask the Lord to baptize me in His love because my love leaks. “Self” hops up on the throne and wants to demand its own way. It’s a battle, but God has already won this battle. Love is patient. So let’s be patient with ourselves as we allow Christ’s love to grow deep roots within us. After all, it is only love that endures.
