Understanding the Father’s Lovingkindness
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. ~Psalm 107:43
A Scripture passage that I ponder periodically is Ephesians 3:17-19:
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
How do we measure and really get to know the love of Christ? I believe the psalmist is giving us a starting point in Psalm 107. We must:
“give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (v. 1).
In order to be able to give thanks for His goodness, we must acknowledge that He is good. In order to testify to that fact, we must recall the good things God has done for us. There is a reason God told the Israelites to tell their children and their grandchildren of the goodness of the Lord. I wonder how many Christians actively do that anymore. Maybe we are losing our children to the world because they don’t understand that every good and perfect gift they have received came from their Heavenly Father. They probably don’t understand how much He loves them, and I’m not sure it is totally their fault. Are we communicating those things to them effectively? Then again, maybe we don’t understand it ourselves.
If this describes you, I would like to challenge you to study this year to truly understand God’s love. In some ways, you never will totally be able to fathom it, but if you never try, it will be harder to give God the thanksgiving that He deserves. He has done so much for us, and He desires us in turn to love our Brothers and Sisters as He has loved us. That is a tall order but one that we must strive toward with His help.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ~John 13:34
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