Good day dear friends.
Our text for today comes from Lamentations 3: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth, 28 to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it, 29 to put one's mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope), 30 to give one's cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults. 31 For the Lord will not reject forever. 32 Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33 for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone. (NRSV)
This passage was the inspiration for one of my favorite hymns, "Great is Thy Faithfulness." There is one line in the hymn that has always spoken to me, and it is in the third stanza, "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow." Of course, it's in the midst of a powerful complete stanza, "Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! (Refrain) 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!" (UM Hymnal 140). The words are by Thomas O. Chisholm, who was inspired to write the hymn's words from verses 22 and 23.
Honestly, one cannot look at the title of this biblical book, Lamentations without thinking, "What can come from that book with a name like that?" But we are corrected, for in the sharing of what we find in that book we find the promise of a God whose presence is always with us; the promise of a God who offers mercy and love to those who seek God, and the promise of a steadfast love that never ends. May the words of this passage and this hymn bless our day today with that which we need to be faithful and fruitful to God.
PRAYER: Loving God, may it be so, that Your blessings allow us to bless others; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
