"Lord, You are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." Isaiah 25:1
There is no greater degree of faithfulness. Jeremiah declares God's faithfulness great in regards to His compassions that never fail. (Lam. 3:23) Psalm 117 proclaims that the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. David, in Psalm 57 describes God's faithfulness as reaching to the skies.
What is God's faithfulness to? He is faithful to His own character. All that He has proclaimed Himself to be, all that He displays Himself to be; that He will faithfully be. What He says He will do, what He says He will be; that He will do and be...always...perfectly. We are the benefactors of His faithfullness.
It follows then, that if we are convinced of God's faithfulness, we will trust. Trust that who God has proved Himself to be, He will be to me. He is not saying that His faithfulness means that situationally all will go as I think it should. If I am trusting in God's faithfulness, than I am trusting that in each and every situation, God will be wholly Himself (love, righteous, just, compassionate, all-powerful, all-knowing, sustainer, holy...) and that is all I need: God Himself: perfectly faithful.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
His Children
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that we are!" 1 John 3:1
I have thought much about the truth stated in this verse this past week... the depth of belonging that is signified when God calls us His children. There are many children that have been part of my life to varying degrees over the years of my adult life. About 30 of them have been foster children in our home. As many or more homeless youth have been under our roof as well. All are recipients of a warm bed, hot meals, a listening hear, a hug of encouragement and some "motherly" advice. Yet, there are only four children in my life that I call "my children": Rebekah, Jonathan, Daniel and Stephanie. What is it that makes that distinction and bestows on these four children alone that position? I believe it is the greatness of the love that I have for these four children. I care about all the children that live in my home, but it is only my four children that I love to the depths of my heart.
What an honor to be called a "child of God." All people are recipients of a beautiful creation, air to breath, the fruit of the earth to eat and God's revelation through His Word. Yet only some are given the "right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Oh the depths of His love for us who are called "God's children." "God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Is that the ultimate demonstration of love, a love that leads God to call us His children?
I have thought much about the truth stated in this verse this past week... the depth of belonging that is signified when God calls us His children. There are many children that have been part of my life to varying degrees over the years of my adult life. About 30 of them have been foster children in our home. As many or more homeless youth have been under our roof as well. All are recipients of a warm bed, hot meals, a listening hear, a hug of encouragement and some "motherly" advice. Yet, there are only four children in my life that I call "my children": Rebekah, Jonathan, Daniel and Stephanie. What is it that makes that distinction and bestows on these four children alone that position? I believe it is the greatness of the love that I have for these four children. I care about all the children that live in my home, but it is only my four children that I love to the depths of my heart.
What an honor to be called a "child of God." All people are recipients of a beautiful creation, air to breath, the fruit of the earth to eat and God's revelation through His Word. Yet only some are given the "right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Oh the depths of His love for us who are called "God's children." "God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Is that the ultimate demonstration of love, a love that leads God to call us His children?
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