Psalm 145:8-9
“The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.” vs. 9
Our eyes are drawn to the word “all,” in verses like this, and we wonder if it can possibly be true. Can the good Lord really have compassion over all? Surely there are exceptions! But there are no caveats in the psalmist’s verses, and no thing and no person is excluded. The words of Genesis 1, “and it was very good,” remain in effect even after the Fall recounted in Genesis 3. As Jesus’ own words, “he sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous,” testify, God showers love on the whole creation, even upon those who are evil. It’s important for us to keep on remembering this great truth, especially when societal forces are pushing us toward even greater polarization. God’s goodness is absolute and knows no boundaries. We who are created in God’s image are called to imitate his love and compassion in all of our relationships, and particularly in those that are difficult. It’s easy to love nice people. Anyone can do that! It gets tougher as we extend our love to those we consider our opponents and adversaries. Then again, if we truly are followers of the One who looked from the cross and asked forgiveness for his murderers, we have no other option than to try. And if we can’t pull it off today, maybe we can do it tomorrow! After all, our calling demands it!
Thought for the Day: When is compassion the toughest for me?
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