for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1 ESV)
Thanksgiving and Love
I know that my gratitude for bacon is shallow. I know this because I cannot narrow down my enjoyment of bacon to just one factor. I am grateful for bacon because it is tasty, greasy, nutritious, texturous, useful, helpful, and attractive. My gratitude for bacon is spread out among dozens of bacon-qualities.
But my gratitude for God is focused and specific. I am most thankful for God’s love. In fact, every other attribute of God for which I am thankful is actually only a facet of His love.
Psalm 136 repeats 26 times that the Psalmist is thankful for God’s steadfast love.
God shows His love through creation, providence, and redemption. He shows His love through patience, patience, and patience. He shows His love through sacrifice, selflessness, and kindness. He shows His love through His attention, His understanding, and His mercy.
God shows His love by giving us faith, hope, and love.
Take the love God grants us.