His faithful love

You’ll have to pardon the direction my thoughts naturally go this week.

As I mentioned yesterday, my pastor and friend passed away this week, and today is the day of his funeral. Thinking about him colors a lot of what I’m reading, and I’m seeing the scriptures in new ways.

More so than ever, the first few lines of this psalm ring in my heart.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.

Let Israel say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”

Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1-4)

“The Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever.”

That’s the whole reason we have hope, isn’t it? If he were not good, if his love were a fickle thing that comes and goes, we’d have no hope at all.

But now, Jesus through the cross has become our salvation. And so even in the darkest of times, we can cry out with confidence,

 I will not die, but I will live. (17)

And when Jesus comes  to take us home, at heaven’s gates we will sing with joy,

Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the LORD’s gate;
the righteous will enter through it.

I will give thanks to you
because you have answered me
and have become my salvation. (19-21)

So while we’re here on earth, in all we go through, both good and bad, every morning as we wake, let us turn to God and sing,

You are my God, and I will give you thanks.
You are my God; I will exalt you. (28)

And remember always: His faithful love endures forever!