A Psalm of Praise...for His great love
In a devotional by Max Lucado, he tells the story of a New York City firefighter who lost his son, also a firefighter, in the tragedy of September 11, 2001. As the Twin Towers fell, his son was there. For three months, this father searched through the rubble, determined to find his son’s body. Finally, on December 11, his son was found and he carried his body out of the debris. The father didn’t quit. “Why?” asks Lucado. “Because the love for his son was greater than the pain of the search.” Jesus withstood the pain of the Cross because His love for us was greater than the pain of the journey. Lucado encourages us to write a psalm of praise to Christ for His great love. Here is mine.
You withstood the false accusations,
Silent, before your accusers you stood.
With a word you could have destroyed them
But silent, they were free to say what they would.
Like a sheep to the slaughter you went
Led by hands that would harm you, torture you,
Hands that would kill you and never repent.
On a cross of shame and pain you hung,
No longer silent…
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
“Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
“Mother, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.”
“My God, why have you abandoned me?”
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Last words - not for yourself, but for others…
Your murderers, a thief, your mother…
A heart that gave - your life, your all.
My mind cannot comprehend that kind of love -
The width and length and depth and height of it.
Unsure at times, how to fully receive it,
To live in it, day by day, week by week, year by year.
Oh, I feel glimpses of it, but I want more!
Much, much more!
Today, I offer you the only thing I have to give -
My praise, my worship.
I join with David and the psalmists and say -
You are good and your mercy endures forever!
You are my strength and my salvation,
You are the place of safety for which my heart yearns.
I lift up my heart, I lift up my voice, and all that I am
In worship to the Lamb,
To the One Who is holy…to the One Who is worthy…to the One Who is glorious
To the One Who is exalted over all.
You are seated on the Throne as you lavish your love upon us…
Without condition
Unrelenting
Non-negotiable
Never ending
Always available
LOVE!
My heart worships You!