For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

God loves us with a steadfast and everlasting love. He loves us not because we deserve it, and not because we have done something to gain his attention. He loves us because he has chosen us, so that we may serve him and be with him. And we love him because he first loved us and because he has gained our attention. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, he has made a formal declaration of his love toward us. He has given this love a definition and an explanation, so that we may understand it and talk about it, and have confidence in it.

The stability of our relationship rests on him. We may believe in the strength and permanence of this love because, although we have no confidence in ourselves, we can have confidence in God’s resolve and power. His love is trustworthy and dependable, because it is not capricious like human affection and faithfulness, and it does not ebb and flow like an emotion. It is not vulnerable to trickery and persuasion, because God is not vulnerable to the accuser’s schemes. It does not stumble over our sins, because he loved us while we were sinners, and he sent his Son to die for our sins, so that we may believe and be saved.

God has manifested his love in Jesus Christ. He has made Christ a focal point in our belief and conduct, and in our message to the world. This honors the Father because we recognize that the Father and the Son are one, and that the Father has sent the Son to atone for our sins and to teach us the truth. All Christians know this love that endures forever, saving and blessing his people through all generations. Consider all the ways that you have transgressed his commands, hardened your heart, and sinned against other people. Yet there is forgiveness and restoration in Jesus Christ. His love is stronger than our sins.

We were all sinners and deserved the punishment of hellfire. We were deceived, and deceiving one another. We were hated, and hating one another. God’s love has united us through Jesus Christ, and we have come together to believe in his son and celebrate the mercy that we have received from him. Let us, therefore, praise him for his love, mercy, and compassion. Think on the strength and tenacity of his love. Be bold in believing it. Throw your whole heart into it. Be zealous in proclaiming it. Rejoice! Be happy! Shout and dance, because God is faithful and devoted to his people. His love is great, and his mercy endures forever.