I heard a family member say more than one occasion, “He’s dead to me now because…” “She is a waist of skin in my life because…” Oh, the piercing words we say, either to people faces or behind their backs to others when we feel they have not met all the standards of our relationship. Most of all, how it must grieve the Holy Spirit when this is not what He is teaching us as truth in love. 

This seems to be a universal dysfunctional flaw in our relationships.  But it seems that only God can intervene to convict, correct, comfort, and compel us to be more like Jesus taught by His example while on earth.  But we must be willing participants. 

Jesus had enemies, enemies who gave false testimonies, He who knew no sin. Then they whipped His body with cords of metal spikes, mocked and spit on Him, all before the humiliation of being nailed to a cross and posted on a hill with thieves to be seen by all who passed by that busy weekend.  But, Jesus last prayer to God about them as He willingly and obediently hung there was, “Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they are doing”.  THIS is the Love of God—unchangeable, unconditional, glorious, passionate, and never quits on humans created in His own image because He wants His best for each one!  To those who believe what He says; He redeems and gives the gift of eternal life.

So, join me, dear friends, to thank God with the Psalmist today.  To those who read this and believe the words written, join the chorus of the Psalmist singing, “God is Good—because His love never quits!!” 

Sing it all day long through good times and challenging times.

Sing it for those who God loves—EVERYone in the world!

Psalm 118, The Message

^1-4 Thank God because he’s good,
    because his love never quits.
Tell the world, Israel,
    “His love never quits.”
And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
    “His love never quits.”
And you who fear God, join in,
    “His love never quits.”

^5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to God;
    from the wide open spaces, he answered.
God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid;
    who would dare lay a hand on me?
God’s my strong champion;
    I flick off my enemies like flies.
Far better to take refuge in God
    than trust in people;
Far better to take refuge in God
    than trust in celebrities.
Hemmed in by barbarians,
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Hemmed in and with no way out,
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
    when God grabbed and held me.

God’s my strength, he’s also my song,
    and now he’s my salvation.
Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
    in the camp of the saved?
        “The hand of God has turned the tide!
        The hand of God is raised in victory!
        The hand of God has turned the tide!”

^17-20 I didn’t die. I lived!
    And now I’m telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
    but he didn’t hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
    I’ll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
    so the victors can enter and praise.

^21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
    you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
    is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
    We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
    let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
    Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

^26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
    from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
    he has bathed us in light.
Adorn the shrine with garlands,
    hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
    O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
    His love never quits!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God will take care of the enemies who press in hard with hate filled words of attack. Our response is to pray God’s best for them so they can join the song of God’s love that never quits on all who receive Him.  Wait, what?!  Yes, Jesus said in His “you have heard it said, but I say to you” sermons on the mountain top to clear up any misconceptions of what God desires of us! 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” –Jesus, Matthew 5:43-47 

Mm, even the pagans can be “church” nice…with no love in their hearts…are we like that? (Sometimes…)

But wait, there’s more…

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Paul, Philippians 2:1-5, NLT

“Shine like stars” Paul continues to teach to divisive churches trying to figure out how to live for Christ by following His example.  Isn’t that still our goal for today—to be like Christ?  Paul and others encourage believers to build each other up; refrain from knocking each other down.  “But you don’t know how deeply they have wronged me,” we whine as we share with others, hoping for pity and justice for ourselves.

Paul responds; 

“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.  Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life…” Philippians 2:12-16a

God knows our story so the replays we tell to others is not only unhealthy, the grumbling and complaining only brings on more critical judgement.  God cares—about both the offended and offender.  It is HIS desire the no one perish but all be saved by grace in Jesus Name—because of HIS LOVE!

Pray for each other, is not just a poster to put up but a discipline to live!  Jesus commanded to pray especially our enemies and to go the “extra mile” for them!  Why? I think it is a great opportunity to show them what Jesus would do in these situations. 

All glory to God for His love never quits—even for our enemies!  I have discovered in my own life that the more I pray for those who slander and accuse me; the less I fall for the same evil tendencies that were dished out to me of fear, tension, and hate in the relationship.

In prayer we gain the power of God who is Love.  Only With God’s love in us can we declare that there is nothing the offender can say that will ever stop our love for them.

Our faith in God who never quits in His love, expects us to love with His love in us. That means our love never quits or gives up of friends and family members who have given up their love for us.  So since God never quits, to be like Him; we never quit.

God knows what we need when we need Him most. His Holy Spirit will guide, counsel, convict, correct, comfort and compel us with resurrection power within us to love everyone with God’s love that never quits!  This is the response that makes God smile.

Lord,

I pray for the day when all who believe, surrender to your will, and come alive in Christ will bow down to worship you with all that is in us all over the world.  May all nations bow down to You and sing from our hearts;

You’re my God, and I thank you.
    O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
    His love never quits!

Thank you, dear Jesus, for your example of perfect Love expressed as a demonstration of a God who never gives up on us.

In Jesus Name, Amen