✝ Daily Encouragement (1/11/23) “The Great Faithfulness Of God"
Published: Wed, 01/11/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
You are receiving this email because you have signed up to receive our Daily Encouragement messages or it was forwarded to you. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
"The Great Faithfulness Of
God"
Message summary:
A firm, growing grasp of God’s faithfulness is an essential source of assurance and peace in the Christian life.
Listen
to our message on your audio player.
“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).
This week we are in a series of "Five Assurances For the New Year" based on Lamentations
3.
Today let us consider Assurance #3: God’s great faithfulness.
This portion of Holy Scripture was written during the fall of Jerusalem. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, describes the evil acts of mankind in such loathsome detail that the reader walks with him in his despair. In his book of Lamentations Jeremiah vividly portrays the deep, troubling emotions of those who actually experienced the catastrophe. Right in the midst of the ruin, as though he were transported into a completely different setting, renewed hope springs up within Jeremiah's heart. After he willfully looks away from the affliction and ruin he contemplates the infinite mercies of God. His perspective turns from the evil peril that surrounded him to the eternal promises that renewed him. Isn't that the perspective we all need?
The Psalmist expressed his assurance in a promise that can fill each one of our lives with hope and expectancy even as we face the inevitable
uncertainties of life; “The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever” (Psalm 138:8).
Forever is still going on some 3,000 years after David wrote these words and, praise God, His love will always endure. Indeed, He will most surely
fulfill His purpose in my life and in yours. Look up today and note God’s faithfulness in the universe. Then declare and rest in His faithfulness in that which concerns you alone!
Thomas O. Chisholm (1866–1960), who came to faith at age 27, wrote this as a poem in 1923 in consideration of God's faithfulness over his
own lifetime. His health was unstable and he alternated between periods of illness and gainful employment. Through the ups and downs he discovered new blessings from God every morning. The text we use today became very precious to him, "His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your Faithfulness" (Lamentations
3:22-23).
In stanza one he writes of God's unchanging character and unfailing compassions. In stanza two he writes of God's faithfulness in
maintaining the order of His universe. In stanza three he writes of God's faithfulness in forgiving our sins, providing strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Each stanza leads to the great culminating chorus that declares the victorious words of Jeremiah, "Great is Thy faithfulness."
A firm, growing grasp of God’s faithfulness is an essential source of assurance and peace in the Christian life. Are you weary today? Are you feeling “burned out”? Are you discouraged? Is there a vexing problem that just seems insurmountable? If you know the hymn, close your eyes and sing, whistle, or hum the tune to “Great is Thy faithfulness”. It will help you consider afresh this wonderful attribute of God’s immutable character.
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! 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.
Be encouraged today, (
Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen and Brooksyne
Weber
![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" Video
Austin Stone
Worship
Brief update on Stephen's health from Brooksyne: (For full story about our first week in 2023 that included Stephen's surgery and hospitalization see footnote in Monday's message
.) Stephen continues to slowly recover from his abdominal surgery with the expected pain, soreness, weakness and weariness that is part of the recovery process but he's pulling it together to get this message out to you. Thank you for being one of our readers - it certainly motivates us
to keep on keeping
on.
|