I just posted a note on Facebook about my father-in-law who is at the Mayo Clinic. He’s in the late stages of COPD. I never thought that my wife and I would be facing a parent’s declining health at our age. But here we are, and today as I was reading Psalm 136 I was reminded of God’s steadfast love.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever, (Psalm 136:1-26, ESV)
The God who created the heavens and the earth, who created you and I, who is mighty to save and can conquer any king has an everlasting love that is steadfast in any circumstance. For that we can thank Him. It is that steadfast love that was also exemplified in Jesus because demonstrating “his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:8, NIV).
The King who conquers kings also conquered our sin by the cross of Christ, and that love is available to all who who receive Him and believe in His name, (John 1:13). He doesn’t wait for you or I to become clean before He died for us, because we can’t become clean without Him, (Ephesians 2:1; 1 John 1:9). All because of His steadfast love.
For that regardless of what circumstance I find myself in I can praise Him, how about you?