May 27– Enduring Love Means Forever

“Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting”; Jeremiah 33:11 (NASB)

Our God is an everlasting and eternal God. There have been times in the Old Testament days when God needed to remind His people of this. In the time of Jeremiah the prophet, the situation was very dark. God was allowing His people to suffer the consequences of their disobedience as He had warned them would happen. But, He wanted His people to know that He still  loved them. That's why God told His people through the prophet that a new day would come when people in Jerusalem would sing to the Lord. In chapter 33 of Jeremiah in verse 11 we read what they would sing. Situations change but God never changes. No matter how many times things in Jerusalem changed over and over again, God's love has never changed – it lasts forever and is today just as it was the day the first person was created on this earth. This is the promise we have. Although our situations change, God's love for us remains the same and it can be trusted. God loves you no matter what has happened, is happening, or will ever happen in your life. 

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April 5 – Only Way to the Only God

“ And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” – Mark 13:13 (ESV)

There are consequences to perpetuating the name of Jesus. We know the honor and respect God’s name deserves, the same for the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The Father sent the Son, Jesus, to earth to live a human’s life as a human and experience the life of the people He created. He encountered temptations and all physical effects that we encounter. But Jesus did all this without sin. He followed His Father’s will in every action, every thought, and every word. When His time on earth was coming to an end Jesus spoke to His disciples. The hate of the enemies of Christ was building to a climax to kill Him. He said that they too would experience that hate. Why? Because when they proclaimed their faith in Him and the Gospel message, the world would turn on them.  They were to be His sent ones – Apostles, and in obedience to their call, the world would hate them because they proclaimed the name of Jesus.  Not only the Apostles but all of us who follow Jesus as the only Way to the only God will also be hated by some for the name of Jesus.  

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December 7 – Cure for Weariness

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 (NASB)

We hear many remarking how difficult this year has been and nearly everyone has been affected by the chaos in our world. They’re hoping next year will be better and are eager for this year to be over. How can we know if it will be any better? We can know that Jesus experienced much worse in His life for our sake. These words were written to encourage us when we are tempted to give up when the going gets really tough. The verse just before this one encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ our Savior which will help us to avoid giving up. Some may be tempted to think that it is not worth all the trouble involved in following close to the Lord. Then we should remember that Jesus came to earth to do his Father's will and He encountered a lot of suffering. The leaders of the people hated Him and were hostile to Jesus and eventually killed him. But He endured it all, shame and death on the cross, and now He is in heaven's glory and we'll be there someday too. Let's fix our eyes on Him today.

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May 27 – Enduring Love Means Forever

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.” Jeremiah 33:11 (NIV)

Our God is an everlasting and eternal God. There have been times in the Old Testament days when God needed to remind His people of this. In the time of Jeremiah the prophet, the situation was very dark. God was allowing His people to suffer the consequences of their disobedience as He had warned them would happen. But, He wanted His people to know that He still  loved them. That's why God told His people through the prophet that a new day would come when people in Jerusalem would sing to the Lord. In chapter 33 of Jeremiah in verse 11 we read what they would sing. Situations change but God never changes. No matter how many times things in Jerusalem changed over and over again, God's love has never changed – it lasts forever and is today just as it was the day the first person was created on this earth. This is the promise we have. Although our situations change, God's love for us remains the same and it can be trusted. God loves you no matter what has happened, is happening, or will ever happen in your life. 

December 4 – Cure for Weariness

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 (NASB)

These words were written to encourage Christians when they are tempted to give up trying to reach some goal in their life. The verse just before this one encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ our Savior which will help us to avoid giving up. Sometimes we may be tempted to think that it is not worth all the trouble involved in following close to the Lord. Then we should remember that Jesus came to earth to do his Father's will and He encountered a lot of suffering. The leaders of the people hated Him and were hostile to Jesus and eventually killed him. But He endured it all, shame and death on the cross, and now He is in heaven's glory and we'll be there someday too. Let's fix our eyes on Him today.

September 27 – Steadfast Love

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

What a wonderful promise begins our verse. How wonderful it is to believe and know that our Lord God will complete and fulfill His purpose for each of us. The psalmist David knew this to be true and says so in this verse. This confirms for us that God has a special purpose for each of us and He is watching over us with a steadfast love that never changes. He knows and sees our reactions to difficulties in our life and here promises to us that he is with us forever. What God has given us to do he will help us do because this purpose is His work in our lives and the lives of others. We can depend on Him to not forsake this work – it is the work of His hands and He will accomplish it because of His love is a steadfast love.

September 12 – Enduring Love

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 118:1 (ESV)

This is the first verse of Psalm 118 as it lifts up our voices in thanks to the Lord because of His goodness and His steadfast love.  It is interesting that this psalm ends with the same words in verse 29. There is a reason why the psalmist opens and closes this song with the same words of thanksgiving. They are important to us too.  It is good to always remember the promise that God is good and his love is steadfast and endures forever. Never will God's love end and never will we be without it. It endures forever. What a promise to walk with today. Let's give thanks indeed for the Lord is good, so very good.

September 1 – Standing, Not Fading

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”” Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

Today's promise comes from the writings of Isaiah, a prophet of God, as he contrasts the things of this world and the things of God. We enjoy the beauty of the natural world around us – the fields of wildflowers and forests of trees but we know that they are only for a season and will wither and fall. This is true of so much around us which is constantly changing. In contrast to the changing things in our lives we do know also of the things of God which do not change. Our verse reminds us that God's word is forever. What he has said will never fail.  Isaiah wrote these words many centuries ago and they are just as true today. God is the unchanging One. Let's trust what He has said, it will not fade away.