O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption (Psalm 130:7 ESV).

Steadfast love and plentiful redemption – my greatest desire and my greatest need.

I’ve been married for thirty-one years, which means my husband has loved me for eleven thousand, three hundred and fifteen days. On my best days when I feel I deserve his love, he loves me. But he also loves me on my worst days, when I sorely disappoint him. He made a promise before God to love me faithfully. His love reflects its source – the greater love of God.

Unlike God’s love, which is patient and kind, it does not envy or boast, etc. (I Corinthians 13 ESV),  our love is tainted by our fallen nature – it’s selfish, manipulative, proud. Our love needs purifying – redeeming.  But the good news is with God there is plentiful redemption.

By the blood of Christ on the cross, our lives were regenerated, by his loving Spirit our lives are being redeemed. Each day our faith is tested, and by his Spirit it is strengthened. As we rely God, we forgive more easily, love more freely, serve more humbly – becoming more like him. Oh the magnificent power of God’s love!

So, as my husband and I anticipate the next however-many years we have together on this earth, God will continue to make our love more like Christ’s. Herein is our hope – as we embody the love of God, it overflows into the lives of others with its plentiful redeeming power.

O my friend, hope in the Lord! For in the Lord is steadfast love and plentiful redemption.