Forever! Sun 5th Feb 17

Last Friday I had the responsibility of leading and speaking at my father’s funeral. Although, as you can imagine, it was a difficult time, it was also an incredible privilege, to both honour my father and the God he served. Immediately before the committal, we read Psalm 103. In the song, David writes; Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him (Psalm 103:15-17).

Although familiar words, I encourage you to reflect with me for a moment on the truth within them. The Psalmist draws our attention to two things. Firstly, our own frailty and secondly and more wonderfully, David contrasts our own mortality with God’s immortality. David says; But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. This fear is not a dread that would drive us from God, rather it is a fear that would draw us close to him. It is a fear that would encourage us to be awestruck in his presence, to delight in his love, to marvel at his grace, to find security as he fathers us and to be gob-smacked by his goodness.

I encourage you then join with me and rejoice in the fact that his love is forever!

Yours, Gareth