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STEADFAST LOVE OF GOD IN LIFE’S CHANGING SCENES

Writer's picture: Olufunmilayo AdekusibeOlufunmilayo Adekusibe

 

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (v. 8)

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2Let Israel now say, His mercy endures forever. … 14The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 16The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 17I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. 18The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. 19Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. 20This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes. 24This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

 



Usually, mercy of God is used to describe His steadfast love, his unfailing love, or his loving kindness, all these still talk about the unmerited grace and favour of God. The writer of this Psalm is calling out to all who have experienced the mercy of God to give thanks to the Lord because His mercy endures for ever. All Christians too and all those who fear the Lord are being called upon to declare the reality of the Lord’s goodness. Our faithfulness and confidence in the love of God should be eternal. In the midst of life’s changing scenes, God’s love towards us never changes. This should give us a firm trust in His security towards us. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.” (vv.22-23). This is quoted about five times in the New Testament, and it is referring to Jesus’ rejection by the elders and leaders in Israel. Unfortunately, today also He is directly or indirectly being rejected by many who believe there are other ways to God. Rejection though extremely hard and painful to experience, this particular one was designed by God because God is going to turn it around for His good and glory. Jesus was later, till today, recognised as the Lord and Saviour of the world, who has come to destroy the works of Satan and who is able to save. HE IS LORD! (v.25).


It is said that the Lord chastises those whom He loves. The psalmist here admits that the Lord chastises and disciplines him severally for sins he did not disclose (v.17). But whenever he turns to God for forgiveness and help, God hears and spares his life. This gave him cause to praise and give thanks to the name of the Lord (v.18; 2Corin. 6:9). The same thing applies to every one of us, Christians and non-Christian alike. God is kind and gracious in mercy. The Scriptures made us to understand that even if our sins be red as scarlet, if we humbly approach the throne of God for mercy and forgiveness, He will forgive! Remember the thief at the right hand of Jesus on the cross, who admitted his sins and he was forgiven (Matt. 27:38).


Our Lord is reaching out to even the worst sinner who will come to him in loneliness of heart to ask for mercy and forgiveness. He is able to destroy all the works of darkness associated with us and our foundation; deliver, and transform our lives, when we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and boldly but humbly seek his help. We should not avoid the gathering of the people of God or not show interest in hearing the word of God. Today, many people have lost interest in listening to the word of God, because of past experiences or the person giving the message. We should realise that God chooses the vessel to use for his work, regardless of what the person was or is. It is when we listen to the word of God, that the word and the Holy Spirit will convict us of our sins, to submission.

OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE


Prayer:

  1. Father, thank you for chastising us when we go astray, in Jesus name.

  2. Thank you for your power to save, deliver and transform to the utmost, in Jesus name.

  3. Father, I ask for forgiveness of my sins, especially inherited sins linking me to powers of darkness, in thought, in words and in deed, especially, sins connecting to dark powers, in Jesus name.

  4. Father, forgive the sins of the community of faith, deliver us and draw us back to your righteous path, in Jesus name.

  5. Father, in your mercy, forgive the sins of our land, deliver us from wicked, evil powers tormenting and oppressing the nation, in Jesus.

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