“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22,23
It is unusual, and remarkable at the same time, that the prophet Jeremiah who suffered so greatly because he was so opposed by his enemies, should write in the midst of the storm that had gathered over Israel, that God’s mercies, and compassions, were NEW every morning…and “Great is Thy faithfulness.” If ever there was a reason, and means to faith, by which one would rise in the morning to seek God, and His grace, to again run the race before himself, this would be the reason, the unchanging grace and mercy of God revealed in His compassion and faithfulness. How so? The very basis for which God will meet man, reveal Himself to man’s heart, and restore his soul, is His everlasting mercy. One cannot explain it, much less fathom the depths of it. One can only step back and behold Calvary and the Son of God dying there, to be overwhelmed that God the Father and the Son by the Spirit would go to such lengths to deal with the wretchedness of sin, the sinner, and Satan, so that the lost, and helpless sheep could be saved, for time and eternity. The revelation of Christ on the Cross is also the basis for believing God, that He IS love, and that He gave His Son for us because He loves us. Then, if we would take the vision a little further, we would see that there is a clear and concise application to every morning when we rise to meet the day, first with regard to personal worship and seeking the face of God, and then, the appropriation of His abundant grace, in order to go forth to love and serve Him. The grace of God provides every believer with the basis for believing God for the new beginning, every morning. The blood of Christ deals with all sin. The Name of Jesus gives us access to the Father. The Spirit of God is given to empower, lead and guide us. And most of all, the Christ is in the heart…not only to dwell there by the Spirit, but to fill us to the full with His Life and power. The new beginning every day, assured to us by the mercies of God, gives to us all fresh access to the Father, there in the holy place of His near presence, to worship and adore Him, receiving from Him the fresh revelation of His goodness, love, purposes, and power. The provision of God for newness of every morning, every day, is the fact that he is forever faithful, and that faithfulness is great, not only in that it can reach every child of God, but that it will certainly do so, if faith will lay hold of the God of all grace who is perfectly, and perpetually faithful to meet us according to the truth of His word.
How is it that men and women of old could daily come to God, with the certainty of meeting Him, or rather, being met by Him in the quiet place? From Moses, to David, to the prophets and disciples of old, all came to realize something of the inexpressible privilege and calling given by God to all who would believe, to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and enter His courts with praise,” there to fall down before the Majesty on High, worshipping in Spirit and in truth. It is to that one who, every day grasps the promises of God’s intervention, the full assurance that He gives, and the enabling that He provides so that, with clean hands and a pure heart, we can come to Him, believing that He IS, and that He is the Rewarder of those who truly seek Him.
What is the result of coming to God for the new beginning every day? It is primarily freshness of fellowship with God, “fresh oil,” the renewed experience of His presence.
Dear Father, Refresh us this morning. In Jesus’ name, Amen.