Thought for the Day - Saturday 27 June

Thought for the Day – Saturday 27^th June

‘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. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust - there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.’ (Lamentations 3: 22-33)

As we begin to leave our times of ‘Lockdown’, ‘Shielding’ and ‘Isolation’ already it seems the ‘blame culture’ has begun. Voices are crying out…this should have been done earlier, that advice should have been followed not this advice, we should have followed the example of this country not that one, and so it goes on…

Sadly too, among all the conspiracy theories and rhetoric some voices can be heard blaming China for the whole outbreak and even blaming God.

These latter voices blaming God must never have read these words from Lamentations!

‘his compassions never fail’;

‘great is your faithfulness;

‘The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him’;

‘no one is cast off by the Lord forever’;

‘he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.’

This is not a God to blame!

This is a God whose love for us is unfailing, who shows great mercy and compassion towards us at all times and who even in those moments of grief that we all have to face in life will be there for us.

The great thing is too, that his love and mercy and faithfulness are not just a one off thing for one day of our lives but rather are new every single morning of life.

This is not a God to blame – this is a God in whom to place our hope!

‘Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

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!’                                ©Hope Publishing

Prayer

Loving Lord,

We praise you for your unfailing love which never ends, for your mercies which begin afresh each day, for your great faithfulness to us. Our hope is in you and we thank you for your unfailing good to those whose hope is in you and those who seek you. Teach us to wait quietly for your salvation and help us always to look to you whose unfailing love for us is so great and whose compassions towards us never fail. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen