Our call to worship this week is Psalm 107:1-9.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
God’s people aren’t promised a life of ease and luxury here on earth. This Psalm speaks of danger and suffering, but when the people cry to God, He hears them. This passage is about our relationship with Him, and the fact that He listens.
God has communicated with us since the very beginning, walking with Adam and Eve in the garden. When we fell into sin, He was saddened by our disobedient action but He did not abandon us. He allowed us to choose through our free will and while that has often led us astray, God is still with us.
God waits for us to choose Him, ready to lead and bless us through His eternal love. Our own efforts can never make us truly happy, only our connection to God will fill our hearts. We may willfully go our own way and suffer due to our stubbornness, but He is always ready to forgive when we repent and welcome us back.
Gracious God, without Your love and care we are lost. Show us the way to be part of Your plan and Your kingdom, sharing the joy of our connection with all the world. Amen.