“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
(Lamentations 3:22-23)
We live in a changing world. Ballplayers know this all too well. Everything seems to be in a state of change. In this flurry of change we look for stability, reliability, trustworthiness and constancy. A faithful, changeless God is the only One who provides this.
The contrast between the faithfulness of God and the fickleness of man is clearly shown throughout the Old Testament. Arthur W. Pink speaks of this attribute of God in these terms … “Far above all finite comprehension is the unchanging faithfulness of God. Everything about God is great, vast, incomparable. He never forgets, never fails, never falters, never forfeits His word.”
God’s faithfulness, in the Old Testament, has a two-fold emphasis, referring first to His absolute reliability, firm constancy and complete freedom from arbitration and fickleness and then to His steadfast love and loyalty to His people. God is faithful in keeping His promises and is therefore worthy of our trust.
His faithfulness is usually connected with His gracious promises of salvation. He is loyal to His covenant and always manifests His steadfast love to His people. The pinnacle of faithfulness in the Scriptures is seen in the work of Christ who showed Himself faithful to His Father (Hebrews 3:2).
Thomas O. Chisholm wrote “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, one of the best loved hymns of all time. In a letter to a friend he wrote, “I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness to a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.” - No wonder he could write: “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!”
God is faithful to forgive sins (1 John 1:9); to deliver us through temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13); to keep His promises (Hebrews 10:23); to help us in suffering (1 Peter 4:19); to strengthen us (2 Thessalonians 3:3); and to fulfill His plan for us (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Question: Can you recount ways God has been faithful in your life?
Challenge: Create a list of ways God has shown Himself faithful to you in difficult times.
Prayer: Thank You Father that you are a faithful, good, and righteous God. You are the Lord who keeps His promises. You are the God who is gracious and merciful in salvation, even as You are just and wrathful in Your judgments.
-- David Fisher, Former Baseball Chapel Leader -- Toronto Blue Jays
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