Message from Scripture: 8/1/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from Lam. 3:22: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.”

Jeremiah, after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army, even with the desperate conditions the remnant left in the land had to face, could speak about God’s faithful love, about His mercies, about how constant and true God was for His people even in difficult times. The Hebrew term for steadfast love is the word “hesed,” which means God’s covenant love with His people, Israel. as the foundation of God’s actions and character. It underlies His goodness and mercy, and it supports His unchallenged position as God and Lord. It’s the basis for His great and wonderous acts, such as creation, delivering Israel from Egypt, His gift of the land to Israel, and His continued deliverance of His people. All that has happened, and will continue to happen, is because of the Lord’s covenant faithfulness and kindness.

For us as Christians, even in the difficult times we face, we can know, through the blood of Christ, God is as faithful to us as He was to His people in times past. In the New Testament, the Greek word agape is our assurance that God loves us in Christ, and will not give up on us. Paul reminds us of this when we read his words in Rom. 8:38-39. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We are in a covenant relationship with God through Christ, through His shed blood for us. It’s our assurance God will never stop loving us, never forget us, never give up on us. No matter what we face, His steadfast love never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. Never let go of Him. God bless.

Robert