Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 22-23, Luke 16:14-31
Good morning,
The prophet Jeremiah is credited with writing the book of Lamentations, the title of which conveys the idea of "loud cries". Jeremiah knew a little about "gut wrenching" prayers. The Jewish rabbis began calling this book "loud cries" or "lamentations" early in history. These are prayers and laments offered by the prophet over the national tragedies that had occured in his country. He grieved over how they had fallen away from God.
Through it all, he still believed and trusted in God's faithfulness.
Smack dab in the middle of this book of lament comes one of the greatest encouragements that one can find:
Lam 3:22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!" NKJV
Some of those "loud cries" can be prayers sent up in the midst of tragedies and trials.
I remember driving home from Lexington KY after hearing of my son Jeff's accident. I spent 7 long hours driving home, crying out to God much of the way. I cried out that my son would not die, please Lord, save him. Looking back it may have been a selfish prayer. The prayers were answered in way that I could not have imagined. The ensuing years have been challenging, but filled with His love and mercy.
Jeff is now the happiest kid, I should say, young man, that you'd ever meet. After two years of silence in which Jeff did not speak. For me, God's mercies are renewed every morning when I go in to see Jeff and he smiles and says something like "my peace to you" or "I appreciate you".
Yesterday, before 8 AM I received a call from my younger son Jason with the news that he had just been accepted into a doctorate level class in seminary (one of only two students not currently in doctoral studies). It was another "new mercy" from God. A little over three years ago Jason had a seizure at Bible college (UMHB in TX) which led to the discovery of an inoperable brain tumor. We didn't know what to expect out of it. But our prayers had changed. We still asked for healing, but instead of "why" the questions were more of "what". God, what are you trying to show us, what are you going to do through this? Those questions are still being answered.
He is still showing us His compassion, mercy, and faithfulness.
Perhaps then you can look back over your life and see "how great is His faithfulness" and how he has seen you "through it all".
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Oh God my father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been
Thou forever will be
Summer and Winter
Springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join in all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
(So Great)
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Your strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand aside
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning
New mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Lam 3:21-28
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.
NKJV
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under one's feet
All the prisoners of the earth,
35 To turn aside the justice due a man
Before the face of the Most High,
36 Or subvert a man in his cause —
The Lord does not approve.
37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
When the Lord has not commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That woe and well-being proceed?
39 Why should a living man complain,
A man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
41 Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven.
NKJV
No comments:
Post a Comment