The Word To Live By: 10-13-25
Phil Waggoner
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11
The Word to live by: I may be wrong about this, but I think that science has finally decided that there is no end to space. The word “heavens” there refers to the sky above us. Notice it is plural, indicating that there are layers to heaven. The heaven you go to when you die in Christ would be the last level. The sky above you to the end of our atmosphere would be the first level. What this scripture is essentially saying is there is no end to God’s lovingkindness towards those who fear Him. The word “fear” there doesn’t mean afraid in the negative sense; it is used for deep reverence, respect and honor. It’s an action based on what you believe, in this case, about God the Father. I used to play pick-up basketball at the local Y at noon. I loved to watch the way people’s attitude toward me changed when they would ask me what I did for a living. If I said I had a siding and window business, attitudes would continue as usual; they would treat me like one of the boys. If I said I was a minister of the gospel, all of a sudden language changed, and attitudes toward me changed. I had a different level of respect shown towards me. Now, of course it wasn’t me; it was the office they were respecting, but that is the picture of the fear of the Lord. The word “lovingkindness” means mercy, goodness and kindness; to be gracious and merciful. It is interesting to me that when the word is translated from the Greek in reference to God it uses “lovingkindness.” When it is referring to man it uses “kindness.” That tells me lovingkindness is unconditional. 1 John tells us that we love God because He first loved us, so if you will accept God’s lovingkindness with gratitude and thanksgiving, it will produce in you the fear of the Lord which is followed by His eternal lovingkindness. Now that’s the circle of life.
Read through the Bible in a year: Revelation 13; Esther 3-4; Psalms 106:1-23;
Read through the New Testament and Proverbs: Proverbs 13, Luke 9:1-31, 1 Timothy 4
The sum of Thy Word is Truth Psalm 119:160