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 3:22-23 ESV 

     The people of Israel had been defeated by the Babylonians as the result of compromise in their
worship of God alone. The book of Lamentation is filled with the cries of God’s people from this defeat, destruction, and captivity that they are experiencing. The bottom line of this book is incredible suffering without an end in sight, and the people lamenting… crying out to God. Think about this reality, ALL suffering in life today is the result of sin. In one’s life today a person can experience pain and sorrow that seems like it will never end, but there is hope. As long as a person has breath, there is hope because of God. By faith, even when God might not make sense, you can trust and have faith in Him. In the middle of all that they were experiencing, the people of Israel acknowledged these three truths.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases:
     God’s love is beyond our comprehension, for He loves us even when it doesn’t make sense for Him to do so. The captivity of the people of Israel was punishment not the absence of God’s love. The fact that he allowed this punishment, shows his love for them. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:6. ESV

His mercies never come to an end: they are new every morning:
     If a person wants to change the direction of their life, they must come to God in repentance of sin. David, who was called a man after God’s own heart, started his prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 with these words, “Have mercy on me, Oh God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” (1-2 ESV) We are given a promise in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV) Friend, that is mercy! Mercy because Jesus himself took our punishment upon the cross and gave us not what we deserved but abundant life. (John 10:10)

Great is your faithfulness:
     For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5 ESV ……. For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Psalms 117: 2 ESV God is faithful because he always does what he says. He revealed hundreds of years before Jesus came that He would send Him to  redeem us from sin and death. Jesus came, died in our place, and rose again. God also has told us that he will come again and then the judgement. God is faithful to his word. He has always been and will always be FAITHFUL!!!!

     In the world today there is much sin resulting in suffering. Not all suffering a person experiences is the result of sin, (example.. Job) but suffering is the result of sin. The word suffer did not even exist until sin. Daniel suffered with the rest of Israel as the result of the sin of a nation, but Daniel honored God even in captivity and suffering. One of the dangers that I am seeing today, is the open embracing of sin. If a people will not lament over sin in their life, they will soon lament over the consequence of that sin’s choice. Every choice in life has a consequence without exception. By faith a person who makes the choice to follow after the things of God has this belief. 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 3:22-23 ESV So the only thing that remains for today is the question, what will be your choice? My prayer for you and for myself is that we will ALWAYS make the right choice. The right choice is this as found in Joshua 24: 14-15 ESV Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him is sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in who’s land you dwell. “BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.” Amen

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David