Meditation–GOD’S GRACIOUS LOVE

God’s gracious love extends beyond what we can imagine. He is supernatural; we are natural. He is infinite; we are finite. His love generates our love; His compassion generates our compassion; His mercy and forgiveness generate our mercy and forgiveness. Praise God that, through Jesus Christ, we are His family. Let us praise Him and share the Good News!

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“What shall I render to the LORD [For] all His benefits toward me?” Psalm116:12 (NKJV)

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HOW GOOD THE LORD IS TO US!

The Lord’s goodness and mercy are magnificent … they are daily … they are without number.

How would we know or how could we calculate each blessing He has bestowed on us?

Our days are numbered, yet each breath we take is a gift from God. Each sunrise is His promise of another day; each sunset is a time to reflect on His goodness.

Each open door offers us possibilities; each closed door keeps us from disaster. When we pray, He hears our voice; when we come to Him, He answers; when we repent of our sins, He forgives; when we praise His name, He restores.

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THE PSALMIST SINGS PRAISES TO THE LORD:

• • • “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1 ESV)
    • “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.” (Psalm 100:1-2 NLT)
    • “I will praise the LORD at all times; my mouth will continually praise him.” (Psalm 34:1 NET)

Fellow Christian blogger Heather Quiroz in her Dec. 31, 2018, post (“Yes, God Loves Failures Like You and Me”) said this: “I see a faithful, steadfast,  immovable, loving God who does not give up on sinners like you and me. I see a love that draws people in, not to shackles and shame, but to freedom and deliverance. Truly, it is love that sets people free and it is God’s enduring love that reminds me that I am not who I used to be, but I am being made into His image and He’s sticking with me through the process.”

How can we possibly take those words in without crying out in praise to a holy God whose love and mercy abound!

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WHAT MORE COULD I WANT than to be with the Lord, to walk where He walks and lie down in His presence?

Again, the psalmist captures this desire: “A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!” (Psalm 84:10 NLT)

This wish is fulfilled by the LORD’s own promise to us: “They shall be My people, and I will be their God.” (Jeremiah 32:38 NASB)

Paul tells us that whether we live or die, “we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8 NIV), so that, for us who believe, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 BSB)

The psalmist again in Psalm 145:1 (NET):

“I will extol you, my God, O King! I will praise your name continually!”

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PRAYER

Our Father God, Your love for us is so amazing. It extends beyond what we can image. We know we are not worthy, yet You have called “righteous” and “sons of God” if we believe in Your Son, whom You sent. Thank You, Lord, our Father. In Jesus’ name, AMEN

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Questions for Personal Meditation and Discussion Groups:

1. Do you believe that the Lord is good to us, even when we are in pain, or do you believe He is good to us only when He “answers” our  prayers the way we want them answered within our preferred timeframe?
2. Do you believe the Lord has a plan for our lives and that His good plan and good timing are in our best interests, even if we do not understand at the time, even though we could be blinded with fury and pain at the “unfairness” of our plight?
3. Can you comprehend the intense abiding love that God has for His creation? Or does it seem so unreal as to be the stuff of dreamers and charlatans? Could it be that the very creation itself cries out in praise to the Creator, that all honor and glory are His alone? If that is even remotely possible for you, what will you do about it? What will your response be?

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