Steadfast Love

Steadfast Love

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.

Lamentations 3:22

 

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  How young are we when we first learn this song?  My granddaughter was not yet two when she learned it.  For most of us we need more than the words of a song to convince us.

 

Every once in a while I admit that I think, “Jesus, if You really love me why do I have to do this hard thing?” “If You really love that brother or sister in Christ, why do they have to go through this difficult time?” “If You love me why don’t you answer that prayer?”

 

When these questions come I have learned to do what I heard John Piper call “preaching to the heart.” I do know that God loves me because the Bible tells me so! I do know that He takes those hard things and those difficult times and He uses them to refine me and teach me so that I may be more like Him and more useful to other people. These are things He allows in my life so that I will grow and mature in my faith for His glory and my good.

 

So, I tell that to my heart. I remind myself of all I know to be true about my Savior and Lord. He is good, He removes my sins and does not deal with me as my iniquities deserve (Psalm 103). He shows His love for me in the way He disciplines me according to Psalm 94:12 which says, “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law.” God’s discipline of us is to be understood as blessing because if we respond to Him in repentance He will forgive us and we’ll be better off for it.

 

Look at these words from Micah 7:18, ” Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.”

 

He not only pardons our sin but even through that time of sin His love for us is steadfast! It never changes. “The remnant of His inheritance” is His people, those who have believed that Jesus’ death on the cross was payment for their sin. God promises these blessings of His love and forgiveness to those who trust in Him.

 

My point today, because I think we all raise these questions sometimes, is that God’s love IS steadfast for those who are His. He never leaves us nor forsakes us – even in our times of sin, trial, trouble, or hardship.

 

Do you trust the Word of God that says that He loves you? This is not a new love, Psalm 25:6, “Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” You have been a recipient of God’s love and mercy since before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Preach that truth to your heart anytime you wonder why God is allowing some difficult circumstance in your life.