“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
Matthew 6:16-18 KJV,https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.6.16-18.KJV
What God Loves
Psalm 33 is a beautiful chapter of the Bible. The writer's motivation is clear: praise. Praise God for how powerful He is, how good He is, how righteous He is. Praise Him for His steady plans, His all-knowing faithfulness, His love for His people. Praise God.
Early on in this outpouring of praise, the psalmist says of God, “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” (Psalm 33:5) He doesn’t just appreciate, tolerate, or approve of justice and righteousness. He loves them.
If we, like God, love righteousness and justice, that means we cannot also love anything that is unrighteous or unjust. The world is full of dark things that call for our attention and affection. But God, in His steadiness, never stops loving the exact same things: righteousness and justice.
Is the earth full of darkness, evil, and sin? Yes. But don’t forget, this verse reminds us of something else the earth is full of: His unfailing love.
Today, take a ...