"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23
Where would we be without the steadfast love and mercy of the Lord God? The Bible makes it pretty clear: Because of our sinfulness and rebellion against God and His ways, we would be consumed by His wrath and suffer forever the torments of hell!
But, because God's loving-kindness and His mercies are not ended but continue to be new every morning, we live on in this world and are blessed of Him with life, food, clothing, shelter, family and loved ones.
Even more importantly, we are blessed with the Word of God and His longsuffering, giving us time to heed God's Word, repent of our sinful ways and receive through faith His mercy and forgiveness in the crucified and risen-again Messiah Jesus.
The Bible says of Christ's second coming and His judgment upon this evil world: "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
That means that this world and our lives continue on a little longer because God is being patient and merciful toward us, not desiring that any should perish and be condemned to hell but that all of us should come to repentance and place our faith and hope in the Lord Jesus and His holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead. God is giving us more time to repent and come to faith in Jesus.
And so it is true: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Every one of us -- and that certainly includes me -- is deserving of the cessation of God's love and mercy because of our sinfulness, but His love for us continues and His mercies are not ended. He continues to reach out to us in steadfast love and with forgiveness, calling upon us to repent and look to Him for mercy and forgiveness for the sake of Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross.
And, when we look to the crucified and risen Christ Jesus in faith, we are not condemned but have everlasting life! Cf. John 3:14ff.
O gracious and merciful Lord God, thank You for Your love and mercy on me. Thank You for not giving up on me and condemning me. Grant me forgiveness and life for the sake of the Son, Christ Jesus, my Savior. In His name, I hope. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]
Religion on 06/26/2019