God's Faithfulness - Lamentations 3:22-23

Lamentations 3:22- 23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (NRSV)

I’ve always loved these verses for several reasons. First of all, they remind me of a dear old couple from Scotland who often sang this as a duet in worship. After decades of marriage, they epitomized all of the love, grace, and faith that these scriptures express.

Secondly, I need this promise from God every single morning of my life. I am far from perfect and cannot get through a single day without sinning. This means that I create a gap between myself and God each day. However, when I wake up in the morning, a new day begins with God’s mercy and forgiveness, faithfulness and love. It’s a beautiful and sacred gift that I will cherish as long as I live.

Application: Start off each day with a smile. God has graciously forgiven us and faithfully loves us, so what more can we possibly need? 😊

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the gift of grace and the blessing of love each day. Enable us to share these blessings will all whom we encounter today. In Christ’s Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship each Sunday at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called ‘Mackintosh Rose. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Rose.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Everlasting Words Acts 6 v 10

Acts 6: 10        But they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Some people believe that we are living in a post-Christian world where Christ’s ways and words are losing their effectiveness in society and throughout the globe. In places like Britain and all over Europe, secularism is increasing and churches are emptying. People believe more in themselves and get what they want out of life, rather than taking guidance from God or experiencing Christ’s grace.

One thing that I have noticed is that when people become more secular they also become more selfish. The law of the jungle and survival of the fittest take the place of God’s laws and faith in Christ. Greed overrides need; vanity replaces charity; and the love of money overtakes love of God.

Some churches cave in and surrender to secularism and become community centers with small chapels. Some Christians give up on God and follow the maddening crowd. Others become spiritually paralyzed and don’t know what to believe in or do.

Those churches and Christians who remain are the ones who seek God’s wisdom and look to the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead them. They do not stand still nor do they stop growing faithfully and spiritually. They know that Christ’s words are everlasting and no matter how hard the secularists try to kill off Christ, they will not succeed. Christ’s mission and ministries have faced this all before, and once again the Church will reform, revive and be resurrected. The world, society, and the devil may attempt to inflict wounds upon the Church, but they cannot prevail against God’s wisdom, Christ’s ways, or the works of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, the world may try to ignore You, but it cannot eradicate Your Presence. Society may seek to diminish Your disciples, but it cannot halt Your mission. The devil may even try to cause havoc throughout the Church, but Your ministry will always prevail. Thank You for Your power and we give glory to Your Everlasting Name. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.