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1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 NRSV Bible)
Dear Friend, welcome to Tuesday. Make it a tremendous one by what you say, think, and do. Each day starts out as blank, empty slates, open and ready for you to leave your mark. Make that mark be a reflection of Jesus living in you! As we pray, let us pray for the family of Byron Freeman (Chance Freeman’s dad). Byron passed away over the weekend. Let us also pray for Katie Foote and her family. Katie’s grandmother Betty Wakefield passed away on Saturday. And let us also pray for Barbara Brandon and her family. Barbara suffered a massive stroke last week and has gone home on hospice.May God's comfort and peace be with each. Pray for one another, especially for those on our prayer lists.
True to form, the psalmist begins this psalm in his usual way; giving thanks to God and encouraging us all to follow suit and give thanks to God. Why? Because God is good and His love endures forever. Who can argue with that reasoning? I can't. God is good all the time; and all the time, God is good!
If we serve God and do that which blesses Him, we are given an all-access pass to His riches and mercies, because our obedience and love we are counted as the righteous, and the psalmist says that those are the gates that open. It is also a prophetic reference to the gates of the city of Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered. The imagery of gates and righteousness in verses 19-20 symbolizes the access granted to those who seek the Lord with sincerity and humility. Through Christ, the ultimate cornerstone, we find entrance into the presence of God. Our hearts overflow with gratitude as we recognize God's response to our cries for salvation. Just as the rejected stone became the cornerstone, so too does God transform our lives, taking what the world may discard and elevating it to significance in His kingdom.
In verse 24, we are reminded that each day is a gift from the Lord, deserving of our rejoicing and gladness. No matter the circumstances we face, we can find solace and hope in the knowledge that God is with us, guiding our steps and granting us the strength to overcome.
As we continue to reflect on this psalm, let us echo the plea for salvation in verse 25, recognizing our continual need for God's intervention in our lives. May we welcome the Savior with open arms, proclaiming, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give thanks to you, for you are good, and your steadfast love endures forever. As we reflect on the words of Psalm 118, may our hearts overflow with gratitude for your faithfulness and grace. Help us to enter your presence with joy and to trust in your salvation. Guide us each day, O Lord, and fill us with your peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Havea great and blessed day in the Lord! HERE'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider how you can express gratitude to Him for His steadfast love. Whether through prayer, acts of kindness, or sharing His love with others, let your life be a testament to His enduring faithfulness.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
