Crowns And Compassion

 He “crowns you with love and compassion,” wrote David. What an amazing statement. Is it possible for us to understand what this means? Is God Himself crowning us with His love and compassion? What might our author have had in mind when he wrote this? Could it mean that we are kings in God’s eyes?

Not really. It means that when we became His children, He crowned us with His loyal, never-ending, steadfast love. We are His now, and we will be His forever throughout eternity, and nothing will ever separate us from Him or His love.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote that “If we die with Him, we will also live with Him, and if we endure hardship, we will also reign with Him.”

Although we may suffer great hardships in this life, God assures us that someday we will live eternally with Him. So, it’s worth it even though we may - at times - doubt it. And when we live in Christ’s Kingdom, we will share His eternal reign with Him.

There may be times when our suffering may cause us to doubt God’s love. When these doubts arise, we must never forget that we have been crowned with His love and compassion. “Our present sufferings,” said Paul, “are not worth comparing with the incredible glory that will be revealed in us.” The assurance of His love gives us hope.

Once crowned with His love and compassion, we need to remember that we will, as Paul also said, “see the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness.” When we are crowned by God Himself, what more can we ask? 

Prayer: Father, Your love is beyond our understanding. But we accept it with grateful hearts and a desire to serve and honor You each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: And crowns you with love and compassion. Psalm 103:4b

Rescued From "The Pit"

Time has a way of bringing about a “lapse in memory.” Many of the important events in our lives - especially when God has intervened in a very dramatic way - have been forgotten over the years. Yes, there are moments when they come to mind, but for the most part, unless we record them somewhere, they are forgotten. Certainly, this is a shortcoming for many of us, and it would be good if we had a “remember this gift” list.

No doubt that is why God had David add the “benefit of remembering this gift” to his list of “Do not forget.”

“Do not forget that he redeems - or more literally - rescues you - from the pit.” In the previous verse, we are reminded of His healing. Now we are reminded to “store this ‘benefit’ - being rescued from death - inside of us.”

“The pit” quite literally means “death.” Those who have ever “walked through the valley of the shadow of death” understand the significance of the “walking back into the light” of life. So, we dare not forget the great benefit and blessing of the restoration of health and healing, hope and happiness.

But we must also remember and constantly recall the “benefit” of having been rescued from “eternal death!” Jesus promised us that, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me, will never die.” This great benefit, eternity with Him, is the greatest of all benefits!

May we remember and rejoice, recall and realize each day that we experience the benefit of His blessings and eternal life, and the hope it gives us.

Prayer:  Help us, Father, to somehow - in some way - understand the value of Your benefits that we enjoy every day - beginning with Your salvation, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Who redeems your life from the pit. Psalm 103:4a

Crowns And Compassion

He “crowns you with love and compassion,” wrote David. What an amazing statement. Is it possible for us to understand what this means? Is God Himself crowning us with His love and compassion? What might our author have had in mind when he wrote this? Could it mean that we are kings in God’s eyes?

Not really. It means that when we became His children, He crowned us with His loyal, never-ending, steadfast love. We are His now, and we will be His forever throughout eternity, and nothing will ever separate us from Him or His love.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote that “If we die with Him we will also live with Him, and if we endure hardship we will also reign with Him.”

Although we may suffer great hardships in this life, God assures us that someday we will live eternally with Him. So, it’s worth it. And when we live in Christ’s Kingdom, we will share His eternal reign with Him.

There may be times when our suffering may cause us to doubt God’s love. When these doubts arise, we must never forget that we have been crowned with His love and compassion. “Our present sufferings,” said Paul, “are not worth comparing with the incredible glory that will be revealed in us.” The assurance of His love gives us hope.

Once crowned with His love and compassion we need to remember that we will, as Paul also said, “see the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness.” When we are crowned by God Himself, what more can we ask?

Prayer: Father, Your love is beyond our understanding. But we accept it with grateful hearts and rejoice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 103:4b and crowns you with love and compassion,

Rescued From "The Pit"

Time has a way of bringing about a “lapse in memory.” Many of the important events in our lives - especially when God has intervened in a very dramatic way - have been forgotten over the years. Yes, there are moments when they come to mind, but for the most part, unless we record them somewhere they are forgotten. Certainly, this is a shortcoming for many of us, and it would be good if we had a “remember this” list.

No doubt that is why God had David add this “benefit” to his list of “Do not forget.”

“Do not forget that he redeems - or more literally - rescues you - from the pit.” In the previous verse, we are reminded of His healing. Now we are reminded to “store this ‘benefit’ - being rescued from death inside us.”

“The pit” quite literally means “death.” Those who have ever “walked through the valley of the shadow of death” understand the significance of the “walking back into the light” of life. So, we dare not forget the great benefit and blessing of the restoration of health and healing, hope and happiness.

But we must also remember the “benefit” of having been rescued from “eternal death!” Jesus promised us that, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me, will never die.” This great benefit, eternity with Him, is the greatest of all benefits!

May we remember and rejoice each day that we enjoy the benefit of eternal life and the hope it gives us.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to somehow understand the tremendous cost of our salvation and the benefit it is to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 103:4a Who redeems your life from destruction,