Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13, NIV).
“Ponder anew what the Almighty can do if with His love He befriend thee.” These words were written by Joachim Neander in 1680 in the hymn, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. The words remind me to ponder, to reflect on a regular basis about what the Creator of the universe can do in and through me if I yield myself to Him. When God calls you his friend, he makes known to you the path of righteousness (Psalm 16:11), he provides help from above (Psalm 121:2) and he lavishes you with his love (1John 3:1). Even in the midst of trying situations, he gives you his perspective. Moses was befriended by God in a special way and God spoke to Moses face to face, not in riddles but very clearly. God used Moses in a mighty way to bring deliverance to his people.
When I reflect on our Lord’s great love and goodness to me, I am motivated to serve him in whatever capacity he calls me. In his strength and power, I can be a vessel to share his love with others and point them to him. God’s befriending calls us to love and obey him as well as bear good fruit.
How about you? What are you pondering about lately? Does reflecting on God’s love stir up a response in you? Dear Lord, thank you for calling us friends and laying your life down for us. May we accept the gift of your friendship and also ponder on your calling in our lives. As we reflect on these things, we thank you for new motivation to serve you. Thank you for removing obstacles that may hinder us from fully following you.
1 thought on “Ponder Anew”
Thank you, Tope, for these encouraging words! Oh, Lord, remove the scales from our eyes that hinder us from seeing you. Unplug our hears when we cannot hear you and soften our hearts that we might receive the MANY ways you LAVISH us with your love.