How Precious

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! Ps 36:7

Precious – this word reminds me of Gollum from Tolkien's ‘The Lord of the Rings' who often snarled the word. What's interesting is that the object of this fictional character's desire, is a ring… not just any ring but one that extends his life far beyond it's natural limits. When we make precious the unfailing love of God (read: enter relationship with God) it extends our life beyond it's natural limits. It instantly qualifies us for eternal life, something hard to get our mind and understanding around but something that is an assured promise. The actual meaning of the word ‘precious' is “Of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly” and right there is our challenge! God payed the ultimate price, showed the greatest love ever known to man by giving up His Son. I love the powerful account – the picture of this kind of sacrifice – in the Old Testament; Abraham willingly giving up his only son, Isaac, at the leading of God. It gives us an earthly representation, a sense of the weight, that a sacrifice like this entails. It also helps us appreciate and value the preciousness of God's sacrifice and love for us. Can you imagine spending your life-savings on a gift for someone, only for them not to use it or worse still, cast it aside. The way we respond to this unfailing love is to not treat it carelessly…but give it the highest value in our lives. This is actually true worship. It thrusts you into a life of thanks giving, which in-turn thrusts you into the presence of God, which in-turn fills you up to overflowing, which in-turn…well…you get it. Today, determine that you'll always give great value to God's unfailing love. It'll bless you…love you guys…have a brilliant day!