Abounding in Love

Written by Pastor Steve Nickodemus

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15

September is my favorite month of the year. The summer heat, and hurry, is over. The crops come off the field filling the barns, and bringing smiles to the faces of the farmer. Here workers harvest hops, a six week process of trailer load after trailer load of fragrant blossoms being brought into the hop dryer.

It is when I see the bountiful harvest that I think of God’s graciousness and overflowing love.  Psalm 145 says, “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.  You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” For it is not only food that God gives so abundantly, but it is His overflowing love and grace that He pours out upon us.

That grace fills the deep desire of our heart, the gift of His love poured out for us on Calvary in the Savior’s sacrifice.  God does not repay us for our sins, but instead gives us the free gift of His abundant love and mercy. He pours it out upon us without expecting some sort of repayment or restitution. We come as we are, reveling in the abundance of His gifts, His love, and His faithfulness.

Our compassionate and gracious God is patient with us, again and again giving of His love and beckoning us to be His children and to join in the wonderful feast that never ends. “Do not turn away, ” the Lord says, “but come to me and let me bless you, let me pour out upon you my goodness and grace.”

We respond, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever!”

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado