The Joy of Glory

Psalm 86 (click here)
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. (Psalm 86:5-7, 9)

Reflection
How is the Lord abounding in steadfast love?

If you’ve read Scripture at all, you’ve discovered very quickly that the Lord does not simply let sin slip by unnoticed. He executes righteous judgment against sin. Many perish in the pages of Scripture…and we all know many people who currently are perishing amidst their sin.

In view of so much sin and impending judgment… how is it that the Lord is ABOUNDING in steadfast love?

One word… ALL.

ALL who call upon the Lord may experience his goodness, his forgiveness, his abounding love, his steadfast love…his grace! The Lord does not discriminate! He doesn’t reserve his goodness for the wise, the beautiful, the rich…no! He gives himself to ALL who call!

There will be people from every nation he has made who will call upon him and experience his goodness! That is a guarantee! It’s a promise! His grace will be experienced by ALL nations!

In view of so much sin that deserves so much judgment…what other adjective could we apply to such steadfast love as this other than ABOUNDING!

Even God’s judgment is an expression of is abounding steadfast love! Love deals with sin! It deals with wrong! To let sin simply slip by would be unloving! God will not let any sin slip by! He will deal with it ALL…and for ALL who call upon him he has dealt with their sin through the cross!

What wondrous-abounding-steadfast love!

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.