Today’s Scripture portion is an individual thanksgiving offered by the Psalmist as God helped him through difficult times. And as he thinks about what God has done for him, his heart overflows with thanksgiving and he starts the Psalm by declaring boldly his love towards God. He has many reasons for his love towards the Lord which he describes the Psalm—V2: an inclined ear, V3: deliverance from death, V7: bountiful treatment, V16: freedom from bondage.

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How many of us can declare boldly as the Psalmist did: “I love the Lord!” If you think that you don’t love God enough, then its only because you don’t understand how much He loves you. 1John 4:19 says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” Love is always a response of love. We are so sensitive to the problems surrounding us that unfortunately we become insensitive towards His love and hence fail to love Him back. The 66 books of Bible have one thing to say – GOD’S LOVE! Let’s briefly look into it.

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• Call to Repentance – Like a loving Father with a stubborn child, God’s heart breaks for His rebellious people. In His justice, He cannot withhold His judgment, but in His grace, He calls them to repentance. Since beginning through different prophets, God calls out His people, “Turn to Me with all your heart…”(Joel 2:12). Its God’s goodness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

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• Saved from the wrath of God – Bible states that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) but God doesn’t want us to face eternal death out of His holy wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1Thessalonians 5:9). Hence out of His immense love He sent His only Son Jesus so that we may not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

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• Safe in His arms – Once you put your trust in the Lord Jesus, He promises never to leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He promises to sustain us in the midst of all our burdens (Psalm 55: 22). He cares for us and hence is ready to take all our anxieties and worries on Himself (1Peter 5:7).

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The list of God’s goodness is never-ending. Knowing them one by one, how can we not love Him?  How can we not testify about it? How can we not proclaim it?

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We would be so thankful to those who helped us in our financial crisis or to those who have taken care of us during our illness or to those who stood by us in our adversities. Unfortunately, we forget that there is something far more serious to deal with than a mere financial crisis or sickness— and that is to be cast down into hell if the price for our sin is not paid. Who in this world can pay the price of our sin? Who can take the punishment of our sin? Who can save us ?– only JESUS CAN! Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all (1Timothy 2:6). Jesus was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities… (Isaiah 53: 5).

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There is no greater love in this world than God’s love for us. What an honor! What a privilege!  We were not worthy to be loved by Him, even though, “God demonstrated His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”  (Romans 5:8).

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Prayer: Dear LORD Jesus, help me to accept Your love that gave all to save me- help me be eternally grateful to You. Amen.