June 25, 2023 • Life for Leaders
Scripture — Psalm 136:3-7 (NRSV)
O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who spread out the earth on the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Focus
God loves us in many different ways. The opening verses of Psalm 136 celebrate God’s love as expressed in the work of creation. When we take in the greatness of the heavens, we realize the greatness of God’s love for us communicated through God’s work.
Prelude
Psalm 136 begins and ends with a call to thankful celebration:
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
. . . . .
O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever. (136:1-3, 26).
The body of the psalm shows how God showers us with steadfast love through the work that God does. Thus, as we reflect upon God’s work, our hearts are filled with grateful celebration.
Pray
Gracious God, thank you for being a good, good God, a God whose love for us never gives up, never expires, never fails.
Thank you for making your love known to us in so many different ways. Your work, Lord, shows us your love. You have made the heavens and the earth for us, filling them with beauty and fruitfulness. You have delivered us from bondage to sin and death, saving us through Jesus Christ. You have never forgotten us, even in times when we forgot you.
Because of the work you have done, today we thank you. We celebrate all that you have made, all that you have given to us. Your steadfast love, O God, endures forever.
As I do my work today, may it be an expression of love. Help me, I pray, to love my colleagues, my customers, my students, my neighbors, my family, and my world through my work. Most of all, may my work be a response to your love. May I love you this day as I work for your glory. Amen.
Ponder Throughout the Day
God’s love for you is revealed through God’s work on your behalf.
For Further Reflection
Read all of Psalm 136.
You may also wish to read Psalm 8.
Banner image by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: The Right Use of Power (Psalm 136).
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Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the Executive Director of the De Pree Center, the lead pastor of a church in Southern California, and the Senior Director of Laity Lodge in Texas. He has written eight books, dozens of articles, and over 2,500 devotions that help people discover the difference God makes in their daily life and leadership. With a Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard, Mark teaches at Fuller Seminary, most recently in his D.Min. cohort on “Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation.” Mark is married to Linda, a marriage and family counselor, spiritual director, and executive coach. Their two grown children are educators on the high school and college level.
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