Lenten Reader | Day 26

March 31st, 2022

The Wonders You Have Done

Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened—
burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.

- Psalm 40:5-10

Too many times, we think about God’s love and willingness to give based upon the way we love and give. God’s love is greater than the capacity we have to love and give, which is why the psalmist marvels at God’s mercy and grace.

The Bible says “God is love”, which although sounds simplistic, doesn’t resonate with the way we often understand love and our ability to give love to others.

Of all the wonders of God, love is foremost. Without his love, nothing else matters. Without His love, we would not continue to exist. There would have been no creation of humans – where we were created in His image. Then after the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, his continuing love as a way of salvation is already in the works – as is described in Genesis 3:15.

Moving forward in history, every time mankind showed the incapacity to remain faithful to God, the Lord could have ended it all. Yet he keeps loving, and in the right time, He sent Jesus to pay the debt that we owed for our sins. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

We can never out-love the Lord as the old gospel song refrains. And another song says “He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!”

When we stop to reflect on what the psalmist is saying in this passage; “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” The many wonders of God are hinged upon his unmatched love for us through Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

- Mike Smith

Prayer
Father, many are your wonders, and none can compare with you. Thank you for loving me – the greatest of all your wonders.