Scripture: Psalm 107:1-3
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Thought for the Day: For the next few days, I will be looking at this Psalm. Like many of you, I appreciate and celebrate the idea of the Lord’s steadfast love enduring forever. On a visit to Rome eight years ago, I visited a number of the catacombs around the city. These burial places from the first few centuries of Christianity sparked my imagination in regard to what it must have been like as an early follower of Jesus. That was a long time ago, but this Psalm would be centuries older. Ancient places and texts provide strength to the foundation of our convictions, but they are bound in time and geography.
The word forever in this passage does not simply speak of a love that has no ending, but a love that had no beginning. It is eternal, and thus is not contained or defined by time. Those ancient places or texts are wonderful in giving context to our faith, yet the love of the Lord is not bound by anything…including time. Thus, the distance between east and west, north and south is insignificant when it comes to the far-reaching capacity of love.
Prayer: The Alpha and Omega – The Beginning and End, I honor and praise you as the One whose gifts are not limited by time and space. Our minds may try to restrict or circumvent these gifts, but you are not held back by our limitations. Thank you for sharing your steadfast love in those places and among those people that others had written off. Amen.
