For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. (Ps. 117:2)
TUCKED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of the Psalms is the smallest chapter in the entire book. In just a few words God proclaimed a powerful truth. The chapter begins and ends with the same three words: Praise the Lord. In between we are given two reasons that capture His essence and give reason for us to praise Him. We praise Him for His great love toward us and for His faithfulness that endures forever.
We cannot even begin to comprehend God’s great love for us. God’s loving mercy powerfully extends to sinful people of every tribe, tongue, and color (Rom. 15:11). His love has no boundaries or prejudices. Once we accept His love and discover that His love is eternal, we have all we need to trust Him, know Him, believe in Him, follow Him, worship Him, and serve Him. As if His love were not enough, His faithfulness endures forever. The moment we’re born, we begin to die. Everything will expire. Nothing lasts forever. We can put our hope in various things and people, but those will eventually fade away or disappoint us. God’s faithfulness endures forever. His mercy is a promised truth, and His promise is without end.
Praise the Lord in all things. It is through His mercy and love that we have been given life. It is in His everlasting faithfulness that we place our hope. In the uncertainty of this world, one thing is for sure: God’s love and faithfulness will always endure. Praise the Lord!
Place your hope in the eternal faithfulness of God and praise Him.
Scott Simmons is the author of the youth discipleship series iFollow (WPH).
