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
Our almost-three-year-old grandson William had gotten a goldfish recently, Phoebe. One day, when we dropped him off at his other grandmother's home, we inquired about Phoebe's health. In gentle, compassionate tones, Nana Stacey informed us that Phoebe had gone to heaven. William responded quite matter-of-factly, "Phoebe died!" From an early age, we are quickly introduced to the natural concept that everything has an expiration date.
There is one exception: the love and mercy of God. While today's verse says these are new every morning, there is never a time when we are not experiencing His faithfulness–even when we sleep. God knows us before we are formed in our mother's womb, throughout all the days of our natural lives, and when our earthly life ceases, we have the promise of greeting him face-to-face.
The old hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" speaks of God's never-failing love. Here's the first verse and chorus.
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassion they fail not;
as thou hast been, thou forever shalt be.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see,
all I have needed thy hands hath provided,
great is the faithfulness, Lord unto me!
God, thank you for your never-ending love and grace. You are with us all the days of our lives. All that we need comes from you. When we sin and repent, you, in your mercy, forgive us. In your compassion, you came from heaven through your Son, Jesus, to offer us salvation so that we might have the hope of eternal life with you. Lord, help us this day to show that never-ending love and grace to others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor TIm
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" The United Methodist Hymnal #140
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