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5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart! (Psalms 36:5-10 NRSV)
Dear Friend, if you haven't heard it today, hear it now: GOD LOVES YOU! And I love you! Nothing else matters other than knowing that God loves you and is present there with you. Nothing on your part to prove anything to anyone, certainly not God. Just receive that love! Bask in God's love! Then wrapped in that love, go and love all people! Show justice, mercy, joy, and peace in all you say, think, and do!
"If you love me, you will do _______________ this for me." "Show me that you love me." "Prove that you love me." No further comments needed. You may have heard that in your life. You may have said this in your life. This devotional is to tell you that you are loved. Who loves you? God! And it's the kind of love that is called agape love; a pure, no strings attached love, an unconditional love. I will never forget Christmas Eve, December 24, 1977. Our church, where I was an intern minister, and I had been the narrator for the Christmas pageant of the church, and I was set to leave Mission, Texas, for the big city of Houston to spend the holidays with my family up there. Nellie and I had just started dating but already it was serious, for she was flying to Houston the day after Christmas to, gulp, meet my family. I was excited, overjoyed, yes, a bit tired, for that day had been a long one, and she walked me to my car. I was driving what had been my first brand new car I had bought while being an employee of Ma Bell, a 1973 Mazda RX3. A nice car with a large lawn mower engine in it that required a quart of oil with every fill-up. We shook hands (yes, this is a family outlet!), and I rolled down my window for another good handshake and I saw she was weeping. Of course I had to ask why? She said, "Because I'm going to miss you!" Wait. What? A woman crying for me? Sigh. Love!
In this psalm, we find him describing the vastness of God's love and faithfulness. This is the result of a lifelong walk with God as was his custom since a child. (Is it yours?) The psalmist says God's love is as high as the heavens and as deep as the great seas. He knows that God’s righteousness is solid and immovable, like the mighty mountains. His judgments, full of wisdom and justice, are beyond human comprehension. These are not just abstract qualities; they are what shape and define God's relationship with us. (See what we miss when we don't seek a daily walk with God?)
The psalmist marvels at how precious God’s steadfast love is. In it, we find refuge—protection and safety, like the shelter of a mother bird’s wings. But God’s love is not just about safety; it is also about provision and abundance. We are invited to "feast on the abundance of His house" and drink from the "river of His delights." This is not the scarcity or stinginess we often experience in the world, but a lavish, overflowing generosity that God extends to all who trust in Him.
When we take refuge in God, we are not simply sheltered from harm. We are invited into the fullness of life—life that nourishes our souls, life that is full of light. "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." In God's presence, we discover what it truly means to live and thrive.
God’s love is not limited or conditional; it is a deep, endless stream that offers us both solace and joy. The psalmist’s prayer at the end, “O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,” echoes our own longing: to experience God’s love more deeply and to share in His light and life more fully.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Your steadfast love that is beyond measure and comprehension. Your faithfulness is our refuge, and Your righteousness is our hope. We are so grateful that in You we find both safety and abundance. Thank You for inviting us into Your presence, where we can feast on Your goodness and drink deeply from Your joy. Help us to live in the light of Your love, to walk in Your righteousness, and to share the fullness of Your grace with others. May Your steadfast love continue to overflow in our hearts, and may we be vessels of that love in the world. In Jesus’ strong name we pray, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day of love in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: What areas of your life are you being called to trust God more fully? Whether you’re in need of refuge, nourishment, or light, know that God’s abundance is freely given. Spend time in His presence today—feast on His goodness, drink from His river of delights, and allow His love to fill you up, so you can pour that same love into the lives of those around you.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
